Physical/Electrical Testing Engineer

The Physical/Electrical Testing Engineer will report to the Physical Testing Group Lead and will work predominantly in the Physical Testing laboratory. The engineer will perform and report results for standard and experimental electrical, RF, mechanical, and physical tests used to characterize materials submitted by internal and external customers. Communication and coordination with customers is important, along with the ability to learn, adapt, and develop test methods to meet customer needs.

Essential Functions

• Performs routine and experimental materials testing accurately and reproducibly while following quality procedures and maintaining data integrity.
• Perform physical/mechanical testing, including tensile, impact, fatigue, creep, high-speed mechanical test and other physical property measurements.
• Performs electrical and RF material characterization, including Dk/Df, conductivity, surface and volume resistivity, impedance, and electromagnetic shielding measurements.
• Learns to operate specialized electrical and RF instrumentation, including Vector Network Analyzers (VNA), impedance analyzers, resistivity meter, and related test equipment.
• Prepares test reports and communicates results to internal and external customers.
• Learns from experienced members of the group and develops expertise in mechanical testing of polymer material.
• Use the scientific method, problem-solving skills, and collaboration to resolve testing and measurement problems.
• Participates in multiple projects simultaneously and helps bring them to completion in a timely manner.
• Supports other laboratory testing activities as workloads and business needs change.

Technical Competence

• Basic knowledge of electrical material properties such as dielectric constant (Dk), dissipation factor (Df), conductivity and resistivity.
• Basic understanding of RF/microwave measurements, transmission lines, impedance, S-parameters, and EMI/EMC is preferred.
• Capable of learning and adapting existing test methods and developing new methods as experience increases.
• Technical writing skills with the ability to report results, draw appropriate conclusions, and create standard operating procedures.
• Basic understanding of statistical tools such as standard deviation, variance, and normal distributions.
• Familiarity with Excel, MATLAB, Python, or similar data-analysis tools is desirable.
• Familiarity with reading and interpreting customer specifications and ASTM, IEC, IEEE, or other industry standards is desirable.
• Performs laboratory work with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Adheres to EHS policies and laboratory safety requirements.

Leadership Skills

• Able to explain test requirements, methods, and results clearly to customers and project teams.
• Participates effectively as a member of multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Understands project objectives and the commitment required to meet project timelines.
• Demonstrates curiosity, willingness to learn, and increasing technical ownership as experience develops.

External Awareness

• Acts professionally when interacting with customers, suppliers, and equipment vendors.
• Understands requirements for protecting customer information, confidential materials, and non-disclosure information.

Communication

• Presents technical ideas and test results in a clear and logical manner.
• Communicates technical information effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Is receptive to new ideas, coaching, and feedback.
• Works effectively with others and demonstrates a strong customer focus.

Result-Oriented

• Performs experiments and reports results accurately and on time.
• Completes required laboratory documentation and maintains appropriate records.
• Demonstrates attention to detail, data quality, and measurement reproducibility.

Business Acumen

• Develops an understanding of Avient's businesses and how laboratory testing supports product development and customer needs.
• Understands competing project priorities and works with the team to prioritize activities.
• Develops an understanding of basic business metrics, including revenue, cost, and operating income.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Entry-level candidates and recent graduates are encouraged to apply; prior industry experience is not required.
• Coursework, laboratory experience, internships, research, or academic projects involving electromagnetics, RF/microwave engineering, electrical measurements, signal integrity, or electronic materials are preferred.
• Hands-on interest in laboratory instrumentation and experimental testing is important.
• Experience with a VNA, oscilloscope, LCR meter, impedance analyzer, or other electrical test equipment through coursework or research is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving, data-analysis, communication, and teamwork skills.

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world.  In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, [email protected].