Associate Application Engineer / Lab Engineer

Associate Application Engineer (Packaging / Coatings / Adhesives)

Location: Bridgewater, NJ (100% Onsite)

Contract: 12+ Months

We are looking for an Associate Application Engineer to support our Specialty Tapes & Labels business within the Packaging segment at our Bridgewater, NJ Technical Center.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work with pilot coating and laminating equipment, support customer demonstrations, perform laboratory testing, and contribute to product development and process optimization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Operate and support pilot coater and laminator equipment for customer demonstrations and technical evaluations

Perform laboratory testing, analyze results, and prepare technical reports

Support calibration, preventative maintenance, and safety inspections of laboratory and pilot equipment

Assist with troubleshooting product and process issues, including root cause analysis and corrective actions

Develop, standardize, and improve laboratory test methods

Support customer visits, technical presentations, and training activities

Collaborate with Sales, Key Account Managers, Application Engineers, and project teams

Maintain technical documentation and reporting within the company databases

Promote a strong safety culture and support 5S initiatives

Qualifications

BS degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related technical discipline

Equivalent hands-on experience in coatings, adhesives, laminating, or converting technologies will also be considered

1-3 years of laboratory, application engineering, or product development experience

Experience with coatings, adhesives, packaging materials, tapes, labels, or web handling processes preferred

Knowledge of coat weight control, tension control, coating methods, drying processes, or laminating equipment is highly desirable

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Strong organizational and project management skills

Preferred Experience

Packaging industry experience

Coating and laminating equipment operation

Adhesives and specialty materials testing

Customer-facing technical support

Additional Information

100% onsite position in Bridgewater, NJ

Minimal travel required

Opportunity to work directly with customers and innovative packaging technologies

If you enjoy hands-on engineering, laboratory testing, process optimization, and customer interaction, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent