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Polymer Process Engineer Jobs in Hayward, CA (NOW HIRING)

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Polymer Chemist

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

Our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug (ABCD) platform merges the fields of protein engineering ... Support tech and process transfer of leading polymeric materials to development and CMC teams.

Blue Current

Sr. Process Engineer

Hayward, CA

$119K - $154K/yr

The Senior Process Engineer will design and conduct experiments for prototyping and characterizing ... Strong understanding of separator materials, polymer/inorganic composites, and their role in solid ...

Blue Current

Sr. Process Engineer

Hayward, CA · On-site

$119K - $154K/yr

The Senior Process Engineer will design and conduct experiments for prototyping and characterizing ... Strong understanding of separator materials, polymer/inorganic composites, and their role in solid ...

Amat

Polymer Chemist/Plating Expert

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$161K - $221K/yr

Who We Are Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce ... Lead process development, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis while collaborating with cross ...

Delo

Key Account Project Engineer USA

San Jose, CA · On-site +1

$78K - $103K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Degree in Materials Engineering/Science, Plastics Engineering, Polymer Science, Automation, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Applied ...

Adecco

Chemist

Sunnyvale, CA

$30 - $40/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Strong in polymer chemistry and process understanding. * Detail-oriented when working with documentation, testing, and quality requirements. * Comfortable collaborating with operators, engineers ...

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All JobsPolymer Process Engineer JobsPolymer Process Engineer Jobs in Hayward, CA

Polymer Process Engineer information

See Hayward, CA salary details

$56.8K

$105.5K

$163.4K

How much do polymer process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for polymer process engineer in Hayward, CA is $105,497.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,400.00 and $118,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a polymer process engineer do?

A Polymer Process Engineer specializes in developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting manufacturing processes involving polymers and plastics. They work to improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of polymer production, which can include tasks like designing equipment, testing materials, and implementing new technologies. These engineers often collaborate with research, production, and quality assurance teams to ensure that polymer products meet required specifications. Their expertise is crucial in industries such as automotive, packaging, medical devices, and consumer goods.

What are some common challenges faced by polymer process engineers when scaling up a process from the lab to full production?

Polymer Process Engineers often encounter challenges when transitioning a process from laboratory scale to full-scale manufacturing. These can include maintaining product consistency, optimizing process parameters, and managing equipment limitations that may not exist at smaller scales. Troubleshooting issues such as material flow, temperature control, and reaction kinetics is essential to ensure quality and efficiency. Effective collaboration with R&D, quality assurance, and production teams is crucial for addressing these challenges and implementing successful scale-up strategies.

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

To thrive as a Polymer Process Engineer, you need a strong background in chemical engineering or materials science, with experience in polymer processing and manufacturing principles. Familiarity with process simulation software, extrusion/injection molding equipment, and relevant industry standards or certifications (such as Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing) is highly valued. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and optimizing production processes. These skills ensure efficient, high-quality polymer product development while maintaining safety, cost-effectiveness, and innovation in manufacturing environments.

What is the difference between Polymer Process Engineer vs Chemical Process Engineer?

AspectPolymer Process EngineerChemical Process Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Chemical Engineering or Polymer ScienceBachelor's in Chemical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentPlastic and polymer manufacturing facilitiesChemical plants, refineries, or manufacturing plants
Industry UsagePlastic, rubber, and polymer industriesChemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy
Common Search/ComparisonPolymer Process Engineer vs Chemical Process Engineer

Polymer Process Engineers focus on developing and optimizing manufacturing processes for plastics and polymers, often working in specialized facilities. Chemical Process Engineers have a broader scope, working across various chemical industries to design and improve chemical production processes. While both roles require chemical engineering knowledge, Polymer Process Engineers specialize in polymer-specific processes and materials.

What are popular job titles related to Polymer Process Engineer jobs in Hayward, CA?

For Polymer Process Engineer jobs in Hayward, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Polymer Process Engineer jobs in Hayward, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Polymer Process Engineer jobs in Hayward, CA are:

Polymer Process Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer Process Engineer job openings in Hayward, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,497 per year, or $50.7 per hour.

Polymer Chemist

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 18 hours ago

Job description

Description
Kodiak Sciences is a fast-growing clinical-stage biotechnology company with a strong focus in ophthalmology. Our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug (ABCD) platform merges the fields of protein engineering, organic chemistry, and polymer chemistry and is at the core of our discovery engine.
We are seeking a Polymer Chemist to join our Polymer Sciences Team, Department of Chemistry. The ideal candidate will be passionate and focused on developing new technologies that challenge the current boundaries. The candidate will use a combination of highly efficient organic chemistries and modern reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) polymerization techniques to synthesize high-performance functional polymers to support technology development at Kodiak Sciences.
This person will join a dynamic, collaborative research environment focused on engineering a new drug delivery platform for ophthalmology applications. The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience in modern RDRP polymerizations and air-free synthesis techniques. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in driving commercial innovation, GLP/GMP, designed experimentation and statistics (e.g., Six-Sigma methodologies) and/or project management tools. The successful candidate is sufficiently versed in organic chemistry techniques, including the design and synthesis of functionalized monomers and polymeric material characterization when needed.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and optimize polymerization processes for up to 100g scale functional polymer synthesis.
  • Support tech and process transfer of leading polymeric materials to development and CMC teams.
  • Develop an automated synthesis system for high throughput formulation screening and validation.
  • Design and execute DOEs to establish key polymer structure-property-performance correlations.
  • Maintain an awareness of technical literature and contacts to define new technical approaches, projects and areas of interest. Proactively bring in new technology from external community.
  • Develop analytical techniques to characterize new polymers and polymeric materials by using SEC-MALS, DLS, NMR, viscosity and other relevant techniques.
  • Summarize and report project results regularly with proper documentation and support intellectual property/patent filings.
  • Stakeholder relationship management and internal customer-centric, deliver impactful results and meeting project timelines, and pro-actively provide strategic inputs to R&D roadmap and future-generation product plans.
  • Follow the guidelines for laboratory safety, training procedures and records according to company and industrial standards.

Education/Experience
  • Ph.D. in polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field
  • Four or more years of relevant experience in biotech/pharma settings, or similar environments, or a relevant postdoc experience is preferred
  • Hands-on experience in large-scale batch synthesis or scale-up using modern RDRP methods.
  • Prior experience working with air- and moisture-sensitive substances using glovebox or Schlenk-techniques is required.
  • Experience with automation in polymer chemistry for high throughput formulation screening and development is a strong plus.
  • Prior polymer and materials characterization experience in SEC/GPC, NMR, UV-Vis, FT-IR, MALDI-ToF is required; experience in additional thermomechanical property characterizations e.g., DMA, DSC, TGA, and Rheology, and advanced characterization methods including TEM, SEM, SANS, SAXS, is a plus
  • Prior experience with polymer grafting, polymer end-group modification, and/or bioconjugate techniques is highly preferred.
  • Prior experience with GMP/GLP, and other manufacturing quality and project management tools (e.g., Six-Sigma and DFMEA) is highly preferred.
  • Prior experience synthesizing polymers for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery devices, polymer bioconjugates, polymeric hydrogels, nonviral gene therapy, etc. is required.
  • Good learning agility and self-driven. Capable of setting goals, planning, leading, and executing R&D projects is a must, as demonstrated by the ability to de-risk projects and manage course corrections.
  • Safety-conscious and continuously maintaining a safe work environment as a role model lab citizen is a must.
  • Excellent sense for detailed documentation and capture of key procedures, research results, and inventions in support of IP protection and commercial innovation is a must.
  • Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills are required for timeline management and driving projects to success.

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