Product Development Assosciate

The Product Development Associate supports the development, testing, and commercialization of coated fabric and polymer-based products while building the technical, analytical, and collaborative skills required to grow into a Development Specialist role. This position works closely with Manufacturing, Quality, and Sales to support new product development, process improvements, and customer-driven solutions.

This role is well suited for a technically curious, hands-on professional who enjoys laboratory work, data-driven problem solving, and cross-functional collaboration, and who is motivated to grow into a role with increasing technical ownership, customer interaction, and leadership responsibility.

The Product Development Associate reports to the Technical Manager within the Develop team.

• Support new product development initiatives, cost-reduction efforts, process improvements, and qualification of alternate raw materials or suppliers.
• Prepare trial specimens using laboratory compounding, extrusion, and coating equipment.
• Conduct laboratory extrusion and coating experiments under guidance of senior development staff.
• Use laboratory equipment and standard test procedures to prepare samples and evaluate materials.
• Collect experimental data and accurately record, summarize, and report results, including basic statistical analysis.
• Conduct routine and periodic testing (e.g., heat stability, color, chemical composition, FTIR) and maintain a test record database for benchmarking and reference.
• Prepare specimens for testing at external laboratories, coordinate shipping and testing, and properly file test reports.

• Set up, operate, clean, and perform routine maintenance on laboratory testing and processing equipment.
• Assist in updating and creating test methods, procedures, and documentation.
• Maintain organized storage of trial materials and ensure proper disposal of obsolete materials.

• Support scale-up trials and production runs during commercialization efforts.
• Assist Quality with testing of production lots as needed.
• Participate in analyzing samples and identifying root causes and solutions for production quality issues or customer complaints.
• Provide technical assistance to Manufacturing, Materials Management, and Sales teams under the guidance of senior staff.

• Work in compliance with regulatory, safety, and environmental standards.
• Adhere to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements and company quality-control procedures.
• Participate in the company’s STOP safety program and maintain good housekeeping practices.
• Maintain SDS records for development materials and communicate documentation changes to the local ISO contact.

As experience and capability grow, the Product Development Associate is expected to progressively take on increased responsibility, including:

• Independently planning and executing development trials and coordinating production runs through the product development stage-gate process.
• Leading defined product development projects or work streams with minimal supervision.
• Engaging directly with customers and Sales to develop and refine coated fabric solutions for specific applications.
• Supporting technology programs aligned with short- and long-term business growth strategies.
• Providing technical input into product costing and ERP systems (e.g., Jomar).
• Supporting process optimization initiatives in manufacturing.
• Collaborating closely with global development teams and contributing to innovation and intellectual property development.

• Post-secondary education in a technical field; degree or diploma in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline preferred.
• Early-career experience (0–2 years) in a laboratory, manufacturing, or product development environment involving polymers, plastics, or coated/textile materials is an asset.
• Foundational knowledge of polymer materials, extrusion, and materials characterization.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to clearly document results and communicate technical information effectively.
• Proficiency with Windows and MS Office applications; experience with data entry and report preparation.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-based, cross-functional environment.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, WHMIS, and general health and safety practices is an asset.