Research & Development Specialist - Finishing Processes

Skills: Finishing Experience, Strong mechanical aptitude, Leadership, Proven ability to run a finishing room / finishing department in a manufacturing facility

Experience level: Mid-senior

Experience required: 5 Years

Education level: All education level

Job function: Manufacturing

Industry: Machinery

Compensation: Negotiable

Total position: 1

Job location: Quakertown, PA

Relocation assistance: No

Visa sponsorship eligibility: No

We are seeking a professional to run the Finishing Room for a precision manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate will have strong mechanical aptitude and direct experience with finishing processes such as blasting, deburring, surface finishing, or related equipment. This role requires someone who can work closely with clients, support sales and engineering teams, evaluate new ideas and process improvements, and engage with prospects on finishing capabilities. Candidates should come from companies that actually perform in-house product finishing and must have prior experience in the finishing discipline. Some leadership background or team management experience, with the ability to pragmatically run day-to-day finishing room operations. We are targeting professionals from industrial finishing environments.

Important: We will NOT consider candidates from pharmaceutical manufacturing backgrounds.

Position Overview

This role focuses on designing, improving, and optimizing vibratory finishing, blasting, washing, electropolishing, triboconditioning, shot peening, and Chemtrol chemical processes used across a wide range of industries. The position also serves as a key technical interface between the manufacturing facility, sales team, and prospective clients, ensuring that finishing solutions are tailored, tested, and validated to meet customer needs.

Research & Development

Design, develop, and refine finishing processes including vibratory, blasting, washing, electropolishing, triboconditioning, shot peening, and Chemtrol chemical treatments.

Conduct experiments and trials to evaluate process performance, part quality, and efficiency.

Analyze test data and document results to guide process improvements and product enhancements.

Develop new finishing methods, materials, and machine configurations to improve process capability and customer outcomes.

Technical Operations

Operate and manage the finishing room within the manufacturing facility, ensuring equipment, chemicals, media, and processes are maintained and optimized.

Set up, run, and adjust finishing equipment to replicate and validate customer applications.

Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues with finishing equipment, media, compounds, and process variables.

Maintain accurate records of process parameters, quality checks, and test outcomes.

Cross?Functional Collaboration

Work closely with the sales team to understand customer needs and provide expert technical support.

Assist sales personnel by developing sample processes, performing part trials, and generating technical reports for customers.

Support internal engineering, production, and technical staff in solving finishing?related challenges.

Qualifications

Experience in surface finishing, materials processing, manufacturing engineering, or related fields.

Strong mechanical aptitude and hands?on skills with industrial machinery.

Ability to analyze technical data and make process-driven decisions.

Excellent communication skills for working with sales teams, technical staff, and customers.

Strong problem?solving abilities and a willingness to experiment, test, and iterate.

Knowledge of vibratory finishing, blasting, washing systems, electropolishing, shot peening, or related finishing technologies (preferred but not required depending on company level).

Core Competencies

Technical curiosity and strong R&D mindset

Process optimization

Data analysis and documentation

Customer-facing communication

Hands-on mechanical and operational skill

Cross-functional teamwork

Additional Information

We are open to submit candidates who may not check every box but bring strong foundational skills in some of the areas !

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