Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials | Pune - Ranjangaon

Job description

3M has a long-standing reputation as a company committed to innovation. We provide the freedom to explore and encourage curiosity and creativity. We gain new insight from diverse thinking, and take risks on new ideas. Here, you can apply your talent in bold ways that matter. Job Description Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials About The Role We are looking for an experienced and innovative Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials to lead the development, optimization, industrialization, and lifecycle management of polymer-based products and materials for Medium Voltage (MV) cable accessories and electrical applications . This role will be responsible for translating customer and application requirements into innovative material and product solutions, with a strong focus on polymer formulation, product development, process development, manufacturing scale-up, validation, and continuous improvement . The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in polymer science, formulation, processing, and product development , along with an understanding of electrical insulation and MV cable applications. Key Responsibilities Product & Material Development • Lead the development and optimization of polymer and elastomeric formulations for electrical applications. • Develop materials based on cross-linked polyolefins, EPDM/EPR, silicone, thermoplastic and thermoset systems, polymer blends, and composites. • Develop and optimize materials to achieve required electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental performance. • Design and develop products for MV cable accessories, including: • Heat-shrinkable insulation tubes • Stress-control tubes • Anti-tracking components • Breakout systems • Cable joint and termination components • Busbar insulation products • Other specialized electrical insulation products • Develop and improve specialty materials such as hot-melt adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, sealants, mastics, water-blocking compounds, semi-conductive compounds, and stress-control materials. • Conduct material characterization, formulation optimization, product validation, and technical failure investigations. Process Development & Manufacturing Scale-Up • Develop, optimize, and validate manufacturing processes for polymeric and elastomeric products. • Establish process parameters and operating windows for: • Polymer compounding • Twin-screw and single-screw extrusion • Co-extrusion and multilayer extrusion • Injection and compression molding • Crosslinking processes • Tube expansion technologies for heat-shrinkable products • Adhesive coating and lamination • Lead scale-up activities from laboratory and pilot development through commercial manufacturing. • Establish robust process windows to achieve consistent product quality, high yields, and improved manufacturing efficiency. • Conduct process capability studies and implement continuous improvement initiatives. • Troubleshoot manufacturing issues related to materials, tooling, equipment, and process variation. Electrical Product & Application Development • Apply materials and polymer expertise to medium voltage cable systems, cable joints, terminations, and electrical insulation applications. • Develop products to meet requirements for: • Dielectric strength • Electrical insulation performance • Tracking and erosion resistance • Thermal endurance • Thermal conductivity • Mechanical properties • Environmental resistance • Support product development involving stress control, electrical field grading, and insulation coordination. • Collaborate with electrical, application, manufacturing, quality, and other technical teams to ensure product performance meets application requirements. Product Industrialization & Lifecycle Management • Lead product development activities from concept, formulation, prototype, and validation through industrialization and commercialization. • Ensure successful technical transfer of new products and processes from R&D to manufacturing. • Identify opportunities to improve existing products in terms of performance, quality, reliability, cost, and manufacturability. • Provide technical support throughout the product lifecycle. • Lead technical investigations related to product failures, customer complaints, and manufacturing issues. Technical Documentation & Compliance • Develop and maintain product specifications, formulations, manufacturing instructions, process specifications, and technical reports. • Prepare and maintain Design FMEAs, Control Plans, validation documentation, and other technical records. • Ensure products and processes comply with applicable quality, environmental, health, safety, regulatory, and industry requirements. • Support testing and qualification activities against relevant electrical and cable industry standards. Innovation & Cross-Functional Leadership • Identify and evaluate new materials, technologies, processes, and product opportunities. • Lead cross-functional product development projects involving R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Sourcing, and Commercial teams. • Apply Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, SPC, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving to accelerate product development and improve process robustness. • Communicate technical findings, project progress, risks, and recommendations effectively to technical and business stakeholders. Qualifications Education Master's Degree In One Of The Following Disciplines • Polymer Engineering / Polymer Science • Plastics Engineering • Chemical Engineering • Materials Science / Materials Engineering • Rubber Technology • Electrical Engineering with strong experience in polymers/materials A Ph.D. or relevant postgraduate qualification will be an advantage. Experience • 10+ years of relevant industrial experie