Product Development Engineer - Automotive Aftermarket

Overview

Develop and commercialize polymer, composite, resin, and coating formulations for the automotive aftermarket. Translate customer insights and AOEM R&D requirements into robust product specifications and manufacturing-ready solutions.

What you'll do

• Serve as a formulation specialist in polymers, composites, resins, and coatings.
• Develop new solutions at lab and pilot scale and ensure formulations are feasible for manufacturing integration.
• Translate customer insights and AOEM R&D requirements into robust product specifications.
• Conduct formulation optimization, stability studies, application testing, and validation.
• Work with AOEM R&D and Customer Marketing teams to identify customer needs and define development priorities.
• Conduct concept testing and gather customer feedback to refine formulations.
• Lead technical trials with customers and secure initial approvals for new products.
• Support commercialization by preparing technical documentation, process guidelines, and scale-up protocols.
• Perform analytical characterization, including rheology, thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and chemical characterization, to validate product differentiation.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and experimental summaries.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Process Engineering during scale-up to ensure a smooth transition into production.
• Troubleshoot formulation issues and provide on-floor technical guidance when required.
• Initiate Gross Margin Improvement (COGS) programs.
• Optimize existing products for improved cost, performance, and processing efficiency.
• Collaborate with raw material suppliers and third-party manufacturers to identify new technologies and materials.
• Drive material and formulation innovation aligned with market needs and emerging technologies.
• Work with Quality, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Application Engineering teams.
• Train Application Engineers on product features, formulation processes, and application methods.
• Maintain accurate lab records, development logs, test data, and technical documents.
• Ensure compliance with internal quality standards, safety norms, and regulatory requirements.

What you'll need

• M.Tech in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in formulation development, product commercialization, or materials engineering.
• Proven experience commercializing material-science-based products, including polymers, coatings, adhesives, resins, or composites.
• Strong understanding of polymer chemistry, resin systems, coating technologies, and material-property relationships.
• Experience working with raw material suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
• Strong collaboration skills and a customer-facing orientation, with the ability to gather insights and translate them into solutions.

Details

• Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India.