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Plastics Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Plant Engineer

Hopewell, VA · On-site

$87 - $98/hr

From lipids for tomorrow's medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics ... The Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations ...

New

Plant Engineer

Hopewell, VA · On-site

$87 - $98/hr

From lipids for tomorrow's medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics ... Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations ...

New

Plant Engineer

Hopewell, VA · On-site

$87K - $98K/yr

From lipids for tomorrow's medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics ... The Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations ...

From lipids for tomorrow's medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics ... The Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations ...

Plant Engineer

Hopewell, VA · On-site

$87 - $98/hr

From lipids for tomorrow's medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics ... The Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations ...

New

Quality Engineer

Norfolk, VA

$69K - $90K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Knowledge of plastic materials a plus Practitioner of scientific method Proficient knowledge of ISO based Quality Management Systems. Mechanical engineering experience preferred Knowledge of Quality ...

Quality Engineer

Norfolk, VA

$62K - $80K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Knowledge of plastic materials a plus * Practitioner of scientific method * Proficient knowledge of ISO based Quality Management Systems. * Mechanical engineering experience preferred * Knowledge of ...

Product Development Engineer

Leesburg, VA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with injection molding, plastic extrusion, metal casting, forging, or related ... A collaborative approach to solving complex engineering challenges. * Effective project management ...

Manufacturing Equipment Engineer

Doswell, VA · On-site

$68K - $88K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... paper and plastic packaging solutions. In addition, we have invested in and manage recycling ... We are seeking a highly skilled Manufacturing Equipment Engineer to join our team. The ...

Civil, Structural Engineer

Hopewell, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... plastics, solvents, packaging, paints, coatings, adhesives, and electronics. Our reliable and ... A CS Engineer supports the Civil Structural Architectural (CSA) design team during all phases of ...

New

Showing results 21-40

Plastics Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$36.2K

$64.7K

$107.6K

How much do plastics engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for plastics engineer in Virginia is $64,706.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,100.00 and $78,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a plastics engineer?

As a plastics engineer, you design and develop products and goods made with plastic material. You find ways to improve the manufacturing process, lower the cost of manufacturing, design molding for plastic products, establish parameters and specifications for new designs, and collaborate with plastics engineers and other colleagues. The qualifications for a career as a plastics engineer are a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology or plastics engineering and a professional engineering (PE) license. You need an understanding of the properties of plastics and strong math skills to get jobs in plastics engineering.

What do plastics engineers do?

Plastics Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and manufacture products made from plastic materials. They work on selecting appropriate plastics, developing new materials, and optimizing manufacturing processes to produce durable, efficient, and cost-effective products. Their responsibilities often include testing materials, troubleshooting production issues, and ensuring products meet safety and quality standards. Plastics Engineers play a key role in industries such as automotive, packaging, medical devices, and consumer goods.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a plastics engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Plastics Engineer, you need a solid background in polymer science, materials engineering, and manufacturing processes, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and industry standards such as ASTM or ISO, as well as certifications like Six Sigma, are often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the development of high-quality, cost-effective plastic products and successful collaboration with cross-functional teams.

What are some common challenges faced by plastics engineers in managing material selection for new products?

Plastics Engineers often encounter challenges when selecting materials for new products, as they must balance performance requirements, cost constraints, manufacturability, and environmental impacts. Navigating the vast array of plastic resins and additives requires a deep understanding of how different materials behave under various conditions. Additionally, engineers must collaborate closely with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure chosen materials meet industry standards and customer expectations. Staying updated with advances in sustainable plastics and recycling technologies is also increasingly important in this role.

What is the difference between Plastics Engineer vs Materials Scientist?

AspectPlastics EngineerMaterials Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Materials ScienceBachelor's or higher in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, R&D labs, product design facilitiesResearch labs, academic institutions, industrial R&D
Industry UsagePlastic product manufacturing, packaging, automotive, consumer goodsMaterial development, research, quality testing across industries

Plastics Engineers focus on designing, developing, and testing plastic products and processes, often working directly in manufacturing settings. Materials Scientists conduct research on materials' properties and develop new materials, typically in research or academic environments. While both roles require a background in materials, Plastics Engineers are more application-oriented, whereas Materials Scientists focus on fundamental research.

What are the most commonly searched types of Plastics Engineer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Plastics Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What job categories do people searching Plastics Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Plastics Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Plastics Engineer jobs in VA?

For Plastics Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Plastics Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $64,706 per year, or $31.1 per hour.

$87 - $98/hr

Other

Posted yesterday

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Job description

What we offer

At Evonik, you’re part of a global chemical company working in many sectors that go beyond chemistry. From lipids for tomorrow’s medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics recycling or membranes to help drive forward the energy transition, you’ll play an essential part in helping the world’s most essential industries succeed. Our success hinges on a diversity of ideas powered by people, not egos. Whether you’re a scientist or engineer, new to the team or established, in business, production, or anything in between – we cheer each other on. Because we believe we can do anything. Explore everything. And Be Part of Something Special!

Find out more about the many benefits we offer:

https://www.evonik.com/en/careers/why.html

Meet the team and get to know the people behind Evonik:

https://www.evonik.com/en/news/meet-the-team.html

The Plant Engineer is responsible for providing day-to-day technical support to plant operations, troubleshooting equipment and process issues, and supporting the safety, reliability, and efficiency of production. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering to execute improvement and capital projects, support process safety initiatives, maintain technical documentation, and identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, plant availability, and overall operational effectiveness.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Responsible for providing plant support related to process troubleshooting, new product introductions, process safety management systems, CAPEX, and OEE.
  • Acting as project manager or project responsible for plant related projects, both large and small up to $500,000 value.
  • Position has full technical responsibility for the care and condition of plants in cooperation with operations.
  • Assures the defined technical availability of the production plants according to the production requirements, and in conformance to changing requirements in respect to economics, safety and care for the environment.
  • Works with other departments such including site engineering, external engineering contractors, and maintenance to plan and secure the resources necessary to execute process trials and projects.
  • Uses experienced engineering judgment, creativity and foresight to initiate studies, projects and new developments and to anticipate and solve unprecedented problems with a focus on long term technical solutions.
  • Provides plant specific technical expertise in the areas of process engineering on
  • equipment innovations and on state-of-the-art process and project techniques.
  • Ensures regulatory compliance of technical installations, maintenance practices and the technical documentation.
REQUIREMENTS
  • BS in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or related field
  • SAP, Emerson Delta-V, Aspin, PIMs, etc is a plus
  • Ability to maintain good communication, good relationships with colleagues and manage priorities
  • Knowledgeable with codes and other Engineering standards is a plus
Summary Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position.(Specific rate to be determined, but not limited to, geographic location, education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data).

Pay Range: $87,000-$98,000 annual salary

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.

Company is Evonik Corporation

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