Research Development Supervisor Jobs in Michigan

Posted Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Join the IPG Team!

Are you ready to elevate your career? At IPG, we are more than just a global leader in packaging and protective solutions—we are a community that values safety, people, passion, integrity, performance, and teamwork. From tapes and films to packaging and protective products, as well as engineered coated materials and advanced packaging machinery, we develop innovative solutions that protect the world. Now, we are expanding our global team and looking for talented individuals like you!

Position Description

Department: Research and Development

Status: Exempt

Position Purpose: R esponsible for leading the development, transition, and integration of new technologies and process platforms from R&D into production. The R&D Engineering Manager will provide engineering leadership and people leadership to the R&D process team as well as leading process and product development projects.

Principle Accountabilities

• Create and sustain a safe work environment; support safety programs, encourage incident reporting, and support investigations/corrective actions.
• Lead, coach, and develop the R&D process team; set direction, expectations, and an execution rhythm
• Provide performance feedback and career development support to the R&D process team; build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth
• Partner across R&D, Operations, Quality, Sales, EHS, Supply Chain, Finance, and other stakeholders to align priorities and execute project plans in support of strategic corporate initiatives
• Build strong vendor relationships; lead vendor evaluations, technical reviews, and collaboration to accelerate prototyping and problem-solving
• Oversee R&D’s technology pipeline and ongoing capabilities including capital deployment and asset management
• Drive continuous innovation by evaluating new technologies and processes, making recommendations, and initiating proof of concept testing
• Apply Design of Experiments (DoE), statistics, and advanced analytics to plan experiments, interpret results, and guide decisions
• Establish strong technical documentation practices; experimental plans, run logs, interpretive reports, work instructions, and clear recommendations
• Utilize project management skills to define, plan, schedule and control the tasks that must be completed to reach project goals
• Ability to work with a union and facilitate teamwork, open communication and compliance to the current collective bargaining agreement

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field
• Master’s degree in engineering or management is preferred
• 10+ years of engineering experience and 3+ years supervisory experience
• Strong competency with digital tools that support digital transformation and data analysis
• Strong mechanical aptitude with industrial mechanical process systems
• Experience with extrusion, mixing, coating, and packaging process experience is preferred
• Innovative, organized, self-starter with great problem-solving skills
• Collaborative interpersonal style
• Strong technical and non-technical communication skills, including written and verbal reports, and presentations to diverse audiences

Why Choose IPG?

At IPG, you will find more than just a job—you will find a place where your success is our success. We pride ourselves on a culture built around strong relationships, where every team member plays a crucial role in our growth. Whether it is through cross-department collaboration, continuous training, or sustainability-driven initiatives, we create an environment where you can thrive.

Our commitment to sustainability influences everything we do, from designing eco-friendly products to minimizing waste in our production processes. We are dedicated to building a greener future while providing safe, supportive workplaces for our people.

With over 40 years of industry expertise and a proven track record of growth and innovation, IPG offers a stable, secure environment where you can flourish!

We offer competitive pay, extensive benefits that support you and your family, and exciting career development opportunities. Whether you are looking to enhance your skills or advance your career, we offer ongoing training and the support you need to succeed. Think big, dream bigger, and make an impact with IPG.

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