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Polymer Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Dover Corporation

Fabricator

Eagle Rock, VA · On-site

$20 - $24/hr

... Engineering Scheer, Ettlinger, AMN, Witte and Sikora- eight successful and well-experienced companies have joined forces to become the global partner for the polymer industry. As a manufacturer of ...

Dover Corporation

Fabricator

Eagle Rock, VA · On-site

$18 - $23.50/hr

... Engineering Scheer, Ettlinger, AMN, Witte and Sikora- eight successful and well-experienced companies have joined forces to become the global partner for the polymer industry. As a manufacturer of ...

Dover Corporation

Fabricator

Eagle Rock, VA · On-site

$20 - $24/hr

... Engineering Scheer, Ettlinger, AMN, Witte and Sikora- eight successful and well-experienced companies have joined forces to become the global partner for the polymer industry. As a manufacturer of ...

Dover Corporation

Fabricator

Eagle Rock, VA

$20 - $24/hr

... Engineering Scheer, Ettlinger, AMN, Witte and Sikora- eight successful and well-experienced companies have joined forces to become the global partner for the polymer industry. As a manufacturer of ...

Dover Corporation

Fabricator

Eagle Rock, VA · On-site

$18 - $23.50/hr

... Engineering Scheer, Ettlinger, AMN, Witte and Sikora- eight successful and well-experienced companies have joined forces to become the global partner for the polymer industry. As a manufacturer of ...

Dover Corporation

Fabricator

Eagle Rock, VA · On-site

$18 - $23.50/hr

... Engineering Scheer, Ettlinger, AMN, Witte and Sikora- eight successful and well-experienced companies have joined forces to become the global partner for the polymer industry. As a manufacturer of ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPolymer Engineer JobsPolymer Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Polymer Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$50.1K

$88.6K

$153.7K

How much do polymer engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for polymer engineer in Virginia is $88,563.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,400.00 and $114,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a polymer engineer do?

A Polymer Engineer specializes in the design, development, and testing of polymer materials, which include plastics, rubbers, and composites. They work on improving the properties of these materials to meet specific performance requirements for various industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer goods. Their responsibilities often include research, product development, quality control, and troubleshooting manufacturing processes. Polymer Engineers also collaborate with chemists, material scientists, and engineers from other disciplines to create innovative products and solutions.

What are some typical challenges polymer engineers face when working on new material development projects?

Polymer Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing material properties to meet specific application requirements, ensuring compatibility with manufacturing processes, and addressing cost constraints. Collaborating with cross-functional teams—including chemists, product designers, and manufacturing specialists—is essential to troubleshoot issues and innovate solutions. Additionally, staying current with industry regulations and sustainability trends can add complexity, but also opens opportunities for creative problem-solving and professional growth.

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

To thrive as a Polymer Engineer, you need a solid background in polymer science, materials engineering, and chemistry, typically supported by a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Proficiency in simulation software (such as MATLAB or ANSYS), laboratory instrumentation, and familiarity with industry standards and testing protocols is crucial. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication abilities set candidates apart in this field. These skills are essential to innovating, ensuring product quality, and successfully collaborating on multidisciplinary projects in the development of new polymer materials and applications.

What does a polymer engineer do?

A polymer engineer primarily works in plastics development. In this career, you develop and test plastics or related materials. Your responsibilities include the fabrication of new polymers, working with the prototype, and designing new equipment to process these materials. You also provide support for all plastic injection molding techniques and monitor customer issues, working to resolve them quickly. You analyze and evaluate the success of each new plastic or polymer. You also research and analyze ongoing developments in the plastics field and select polymers for new applications and testing. Other duties include maintaining product improvement policies and promoting efficient lab operations.

What is the difference between Polymer Engineer vs Materials Scientist?

AspectPolymer EngineerMaterials Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or Materials ScienceBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsResearch labs, academia, industry R&D
Industry UsagePlastic, rubber, polymer product manufacturingBroad industry applications including metals, ceramics, polymers

Polymer Engineers focus specifically on the development and manufacturing of polymer materials, while Materials Scientists have a broader scope, studying various materials including metals, ceramics, and polymers. Both roles often collaborate and share similar educational backgrounds, but Polymer Engineers are more specialized in polymer applications and production processes.

More about Polymer Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Polymer Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Polymer Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Polymer Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Polymer Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Polymer Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Polymer Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Polymer Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Polymer Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Polymer Engineer jobs in VA? For Polymer Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Polymer Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 11% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $88,563 per year, or $42.6 per hour.

Senior Innovation Engineer, Packaging Development

Klöckner Pentaplast

Charlottesville, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

The Company
kp is a globally recognised leader in the packaging and specialty film industry, renowned for its unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. The need to act on climate change has never been clearer so we incorporate sustainability into everything we do by #InvestingInBetter - creating innovative products that enhance product protection, shelf life and contribute to reducing the overall carbon footprint.
At kp, we are passionate about ensuring our customers' satisfaction, and we strive to achieve this goal by focusing all our efforts on meeting their evolving needs. Our dedication to drive a positive change in the packaging industry with a focus on quality and sustainability has earned us a reputation as a trusted partner for businesses worldwide.
kp is currently looking for a Senior Innovation Engineer, Packaging Development at our Pharma, Health & Durables Site in Charlottesville, VA who will be responsible for conceptualizing, developing, validating technically and commercially feasible high barrier sustainable packaging solutions for pharmaceutical and medical devices for global markets. The position will align with kp's short and long term strategic goals and work with internal and external stakeholders to design and develop packaging solutions by collaborating with global innovation and cross functional teams.
Tasks & Responsibilities:
  • Understand market/customer requirements to design, develop and validate high barrier sustainable packaging solutions for pharma and medical device products.
  • Construct design brief in close coordination with sales, product line management, quality, manufacturing and regulatory to define product CTQs and CTPs
  • Lead packaging development projects from concept to commercialization using kp's stage gate process and present stage gate updates to peers and kp's senior leadership team
  • Work in close collaboration with global innovation team members to develop kp's short and long term strategic platform solutions.
  • Develop packaging solutions which meet with global pharma and medical device regulatory requirements.
  • Work with kp's external partners to develop open innovation and joint solutions that meet with customer and market expectations.
  • Use quality by design (QBD) methodologies to develop robust solutions which would meet with pre-defined critical to quality (CTQ's) and critical to process (CTP's).
  • Write timely and detailed but succinct reports to bring out the project goals, actions, observations and next steps
  • Domain expertise in pharma packaging/medical packaging
  • Demonstrated ability to work with process and production engineers to understand & solve real time operational challenges during product development
  • Demonstrated ability to use analytical techniques such as but not limited to - DSC. TGA, FTIR
  • Partner with material & technology providers to drive new innovations
  • Liase with legal/patent attorneys to develop/evaluate IP/Freedom to Operate
  • Monitor and drive product safety through regulatory compliances for all new products - familiarity with CONEG, PROP 65, USFDA, EC/EU, REACH etc...

Education:
Masters degree in Polymer/Chemical/Plastics Engineering, min 8 years of relevant professional experience
Knowledge/Skills:
  • In depth working knowledge of polymers such as but not limited to PE,PET,PP, PETG, PCTFE, PVC, PVDC
  • Hand on experience on various polymer processing techniques such as single screw/twin screw extrusion, calendaring, coating and lamination
  • Subject matter expertise on structure property relationship of different polymers.
  • Working knowledge of various additives for polymers such as anti oxidants, nucleating agents, anti static agents, colorants etc.
  • Working knowledge of films providing oxygen and moisture barrier for protection of sensitive product such as pharma solid/liquid oral dosage.
  • Domain knowledge of sterilizable medical device packaging films using various sterilizable techniques such as gamma, E Beam, EtO etc.
  • Hands-on experience on extrusion/lamination/coating processes
  • Good understanding of various analytical techniques such as FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, Microscopy
  • Good understanding of various instruments such as tensile tester, impact tester, rapid prototyping.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office - Ability to Enter and Interpret Data in Excel and Write Project Reports in Word, make presentations using powerpoint.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and timely with both internal and external stakeholders
  • Background in Pharma/Medical Device Packaging a plus, incl. an understanding of regulatory norms for pharma and medical devices.

Competencies:
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Ability to independently engage with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
  • Ability to efficiently handle multiple projects at the same time.
  • Ability to write succinct technical reports
  • Ability to anticipate constraints and risks, design work arounds and countermeasures to achieve project objectives
  • Willingness to travel occasionally for customer support, project support or training.

Apply Now!
If you are determined, thrive in a fast-paced environment with high levels of accountability and focus, then we'd love to meet you! Please apply using the link below.
At kp, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is vital to our global success. We welcome applicants from all identities, ideas, perspectives and experiences and encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. We aim to create an inclusive culture where our employees feel empowered to play to their strengths and see themselves reflected in the organization without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual preference, marital status, or inclusion in any other protected class.
***Please be aware of recruitment scams. Klöckner Pentaplast will never ask candidates to provide payments, bank details, national identification numbers, or any other sensitive personal information during the interview process. If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a communication claiming to be from kp, please contact us directly at career@kpfilms.com.

Apply