Materials Quality Engineer

Role details

Materials Quality Engineer – Testing & Product Development

Location: Phoenix, Arizona (with travel to Elkhart, Indiana)

Company: Supersede

Reports To: Vice President of Engineering

About Supersede

At Supersede, we’re crafting waves of change with sustainable building materials. As a fast-growing company focused on innovation, circular manufacturing, and environmental stewardship, we are transforming recycled plastics into high-performance building products. We are seeking a highly motivated Materials Quality Engineer – Testing & Product Development to help build and lead our materials testing, quality systems, and product validation capabilities.

Position Overview

The Materials Quality Engineer – Testing & Product Development will lead the development, documentation, and implementation of material testing and quality control systems for Supersede’s recycled and extruded plastic products. This role is responsible for establishing standardized testing procedures, analyzing data, ensuring product compliance, and supporting new product development initiatives.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in plastics testing, materials characterization, quality engineering, and product development. This individual will play a critical role in qualifying new formulations, supporting extrusion and compounding operations, validating finished product performance, and managing certification programs.

This position requires a hands-on, detail-oriented engineer who can independently manage a quality laboratory environment while collaborating closely with engineering, production, operations, and product development teams.

The position is based in Phoenix, Arizona and requires travel of up to 25% to Supersede’s manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Indiana for equipment commissioning, testing support, quality audits, and product certification activities.

Key Responsibilities

Materials Testing & Quality Systems

• Develop, document, and implement testing procedures for plastic material properties in accordance with ASTM, ISO, and other applicable standards.
• Establish and maintain Supersede’s quality laboratory, including equipment calibration, preventive maintenance, and operator training.
• Conduct materials testing and analyze results to support material qualification, process validation, production quality, and product development.
• Lead quality control initiatives for raw materials, in-process production, and finished goods.
• Develop control plans, sampling procedures, acceptance criteria, and quality documentation to support manufacturing operations and certification requirements.
• Ensure testing accuracy, data integrity, traceability, and compliance with internal quality standards.

Product Development & Validation

• Design and execute Design of Experiments (DOE) to evaluate process variables and optimize material properties.
• Design and execute DOE studies to evaluate end-use applications, assemblies, and product performance.
• Collaborate with R&D, extrusion, compounding, and production teams to improve product consistency and performance.
• Support new product development efforts through testing, analysis, and material characterization.
• Analyze product failures, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.

Certification & Compliance

• Lead material and product certification projects by defining requirements, coordinating testing activities, managing vendors, documenting results, and maintaining required records.
• Support certification efforts and compliance programs including ISO, ICC, USCG, and other applicable industry standards.
• Prepare technical reports, data packages, and submissions for certification agencies and regulatory bodies.
• Maintain documentation necessary to sustain certifications and quality management systems.

Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Utilize CAD software to assist with product development, tooling design, test fixtures, and custom laboratory setups.
• Support manufacturing process improvements through statistical analysis and data-driven decision making.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to improve testing efficiency, documentation, and process control.
• Participate in cross-functional engineering projects supporting company growth and manufacturing scale-up initiatives.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or related engineering or polymer discipline .
• Minimum 3 years of experience in materials testing, product development, quality engineering, polymer processing or related roles.
• Hands-on experience performing physical and mechanical testing such as:
• Tensile testing
• Flexural testing
• Impact testing
• Hardness testing
• Melt flow analysis
• Other polymer characterization methods
• Strong understanding of polymer materials, mechanical properties, material behavior, and failure modes.
• Experience with Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and interpretation of test data.
• Experience working within quality management systems and process validation environments.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% between Phoenix, AZ and Elkhart, IN.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in plastics extrusion, compounding, recycling, or building materials manufacturing.
• Familiarity with certification and accreditation programs including ISO, ICC, USCG, or similar standards.
• Experience developing quality laboratories, testing procedures, and control plans.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma training or certification.
• Experience supporting product certifications and regulatory compliance programs.

Why Join Supersede?

At Supersede, we value innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to sustainability. You’ll have the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment where your contributions directly shape our products, manufacturing processes, and future growth. As a member of our engineering team, you’ll help develop industry-leading sustainable building materials while building systems and capabilities from the ground up.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Career growth opportunities in a rapidly expanding company
• Collaborative and entrepreneurial work environment
• Meaningful work advancing sustainability and circular manufacturing
• Opportunity to make a direct impact on product innovation and quality