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Plastics Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling ...

TE Connectivity

PLASTICS ENGINEER II

Tullahoma, TN · On-site

PLASTICS ENGINEER II Posting Start Date: 6/11/26 At TE, you will unleash your potential working with people from diverse backgrounds and industries to create a safer, sustainable and more connected ...

Apple

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Cupertino, CA

$163K - $246K/yr

Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling ...

Formosa Plastics

Carbon Engineer

Livingston, NJ · On-site

$126K - $134K/yr

A. (Formosa Plastics) is a growing, vertically-integrated supplier of plastic resins and ... CARBON ENGINEER POSITION OBJECTIVE * This position is responsible for supporting the development ...

Toyota

Engineer - Plastics

Georgetown, KY

Reporting to the Machine Group Manager, the person in this role will support the Plastics ... Support plant engineering, manufacturing activities, and technical reporting * Lead equipment ...

New

Toyota

Engineer - Plastics

Princeton, IN

Reporting to the Machine Group Manager, the person in this role will support the Plastics ... Support plant engineering, manufacturing activities, and technical reporting * Lead equipment ...

New

Truck-Lite

Plastics Tooling Engineer

Erie, PA · On-site

Will serve as the technical expert for plastic part design and development on a multi-disciplinary Engineering team. Products include (but are not limited to) LED headlamps & fog lamps, LED signal ...

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Plastics Engineer information

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$36.5K

$65.3K

$108.5K

How much do plastics engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for plastics engineer in the United States is $65,265.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $79,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 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.

More about Plastics Engineer jobs
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Plastics Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Plastics Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,265 per year, or $31.4 per hour.
Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Tooling Engineer - Plastics

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 670 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish.
The people here at Apple don't just build products - they craft the kind of wonder that's revolutionized entire industries. It's the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.
Description
Lead the development of new plastic injection tooling projects to meet a wide range of product performance and cosmetic requirements.
Lead Apple suppliers to design and produce world-class plastic tooling. Lead tool design and build, tool and process development and tool qualifications at the supplier.
Collaborate with supply management, product design, industrial design, and manufacturing engineering groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part & tooling designs.
Serve as Apple's internal plastic tooling and manufacturing authority by demonstrating a thorough understanding of properties of various mold-making materials and tool component fabrication techniques.
Institute continuous process improvement measures from initial product design through production ramp of new products.
Proficient with the use of Design For Manufacturing, SPC, DOE and Six Sigma techniques.
Take the leading role in driving the improvement of productivity and quality of plastic part manufacturing, molding and tooling techniques.
Train engineers at supplier plants in Asia to utilize new tooling materials and fabrication techniques.
Develop collaborative relationships with Apple suppliers through training and quality control visits. Advise supplier plants on maintaining correct controls on the processes.
Minimum Qualifications
Position requires 10+ years in the mold making and molding industry
25% Travel required
Preferred Qualifications
Extensive experience in tooling design and manufacturing required.
Knowledge of plastic materials and design for manufacturing in terms of geometry and cosmetic quality.
Lens and optical tooling experience
Experience in developing plastic processing parameters.
Experience in leading complex development programs with overseas vendors (Asia) is preferred.
Excellent written and oral communication skills are necessary.
BS or MS Plastics Engineer preferred

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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