Job Description

Our client is seeking an experienced R&D Specialist (Process Engineer – Surface Finishing) who has deep experience in industrial finishing environments, strong mechanical aptitude, and the ability to design, test, and optimize finishing methods used in precision manufacturing. This role also supports customer trials, collaborates with sales and engineering teams, and ensures finishing solutions meet technical and quality requirements.

Onsite | No Visa Sponsorship | No Relocation Assistance

Please Note:

• Candidates with pharmaceutical manufacturing backgrounds are not a fit due to significant process differences.
• Candidates with strong foundational finishing experience are encouraged to apply, even if you do not meet every preferred qualification.

Requirements:

Process Development & R&D

• Design, refine, and optimize finishing processes such as vibratory finishing, blasting, deburring, washing, electropolishing, triboconditioning, shot peening, and chemical finishing.
• Conduct experiments and part trials to evaluate process performance, part quality, and efficiency.
• Analyze test data, document results, and translate findings into repeatable production processes.
• Develop new finishing methods, materials, and machine configurations to improve capability and customer outcomes.

Finishing Room Operations

• Lead day‑to‑day operations of the finishing room, ensuring equipment, media, chemicals, and processes are properly maintained.
• Set up, run, and adjust finishing equipment to replicate customer applications and validate processes.
• Troubleshoot issues related to equipment, media, compounds, and process variables.
• Maintain accurate records of process parameters, quality checks, and test outcomes.

Customer & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with sales teams to understand customer needs and provide technical finishing expertise.
• Perform customer part trials, prepare sample reports, and present findings to internal teams and clients.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, and technical staff to solve finishing‑related challenges and support new business opportunities.

Qualifications (Must-Haves)

• 5+ years of experience in industrial finishing, surface finishing, materials processing, or precision manufacturing.
• Proven ability to run a finishing room or finishing department in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands‑on experience with industrial finishing equipment.
• Experience designing and executing finishing trials, analyzing process data, and documenting results.
• Customer‑facing technical communication experience (sample runs, reports, sales/engineering support)
• Background in environments that perform in‑house product finishing (precision machining, metal finishing, industrial manufacturing)
• All education levels considered or equivalent hands‑on experience is fully acceptable.

Preferred Skills:

• Basic CAD familiarity for fixturing or part setup.
• Leadership or team‑lead experience in a shop‑floor environment.
• Familiarity with process optimization, DOE, or statistical analysis tools.
• Experience with surface metrology tools (profilometers, roughness measurement)
• Experience with vibratory finishing, blasting, washing systems, electropolishing, shot peening, or chemical finishing technologies.

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