Plastics Engineer - Manufacturing

Role details

Matchless Plastics, Inc.

Location:

On-site, Plymouth, MN

Type:

Full-Time

Reports To:

President

Compensation:

based on experience

Who We Are

Matchless Plastics is a plastic injection molding manufacturer in Plymouth, MN. We’ve been serving OEM’s and B2C customers since 1988. We live by our Core Values of Grit, Humbly Confident, Positive, and Hungry.

The Role

The Plastic Processing Engineer owns process development, process stability, and technical problem-solving for molding operations. You will establish and improve molding parameters, support new molds and product launches, troubleshoot defects and downtime, and work across production, tooling, maintenance, quality, and purchasing to keep parts running to standard.

What You'll Do

Process Development and Optimization • Develop, document, and optimize molding processes for new and existing parts, including setup standards, startup conditions, and approved process windows. • Improve cycle times, scrap, process consistency, labor efficiency, and machine utilization without compromising part quality. • Interface with customers, resin suppliers and tool suppliers to optimize DFM.

• Support material selection, resin trials, drying standards, and material handling practices to improve part quality and process repeatability. • Quote tooling and parts and support Sales in initial customer conversations.

Daily Production Support • Partner with production supervisors, setup personnel, and technicians on floor-level processing issues. Investigate, decide, document, verify. • Participate in daily production meetings and help prioritize technical actions that protect schedule, quality, and uptime. • Evaluate molding machines, auxiliaries, robots, and related equipment for processing fit, performance, and improvement opportunities.

Technical Leadership • Provide hands-on technical guidance and training to process technicians, setup personnel, supervisors, and operators on sound molding practices. • Help build processing discipline on the floor through clear standards, direct feedback, and follow-through. • Set goals for process improvement that align with plant objectives and report progress to leadership.

What We're Looking For

Must-Haves • 5\+ years of experience in plastics manufacturing, with strong hands-on experience in injection molding process development and troubleshooting. • Associate or bachelor’s degree in plastics engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, or equivalent experience. • Experience with scientific molding, DOE, validation, and capability studies.

• Strong working knowledge of thermoplastic materials, resin behavior, mold interaction, and machine processing parameters. • Ability to read part drawings and specifications and connect them to processing decisions. • Communication skills that hold up with production, maintenance, quality, plant leadership, customers, and suppliers.

Nice-to-Haves • Experience with automation, robots, EOAT, and auxiliary equipment in a molding environment. • Experience leading technical training or mentoring process technicians. • Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, SPC, Moldflow, or structured continuous improvement tools.

You'll Thrive Here If You • Stay calm when a process drifts, a press goes down, or production gets hot. The floor reads your tone. • Solve problems at the root instead of treating symptoms. • Know your stuff, give honest feedback, and admit what you do not know. • Are proactive: see what needs to be tightened up and start before being asked. • Can balance urgency with discipline. Not every fast fix is a good fix.

Why Matchless Plastics and Our Core Values

Our Core Values • Grit

. You find a way when others see a dead end. You embrace hard things and do not give up. • Humbly Confident

. You give honest feedback, operate without ego, and know your stuff. • Positive

. You bring energy, stay solution-oriented, and make the best of everything. • Hungry

. You pursue exceptionalism, walk with purpose, and choose discipline over comfort.

Ready to apply? If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you.