The Role
Lead development of polymer, thin-film, and coating technologies; bridge bench testing to manufacturing; support quality, manufacturing, and supply chain; manage vendor interfaces; develop specs and procedures; mentor junior engineers; maintain documentation and support commercialization and technical sales.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Summary:
XPEL is seeking a Research and Development Engineer. This individual will be supporting XPEL’s R&D activities while also lending support to analytical laboratory quality/Manufacturing teams as required across all of XPEL’s product portfolio and help drive efficiency and expand on current capability as appropriate to XPEL’s business needs. You must be able to thrive and succeed in an entrepreneurial environment and not be hindered by ambiguity or competing priorities. The ideal candidate for this position is a detail-oriented individual with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of understanding our products and acknowledging with ease its strengths and limitations with the intent to steer the development and evolution of our solutions. The candidate also has very strong communication skills and manages to communicate with a variety of stakeholders within XPEL.The preferred location for this role will be at out of our office in San Antonio, TX. The R&D Engineer will report to the Director of Technology
Core Duties
- Lead and oversee the development of XPEL’s core technologies
- Work with Quality/manufacturing, and supply chain to identify and secure key strategic materials for existing and new PPF, coatings, and related technologies
- Provide robust technical solutions to new product development initiatives and lend support to sales and product management teams
- Bridge the gap from bench scale testing to industrial manufacturing processes
- Knowledge build and assess risk & factor all relevant industrial process & material validation on product performance through its life cycle
- Develop plans and procedures for specifications & fabrication of components, integration of technologies, balancing cost & manufacturability
- Serve as technical interface to vendors and manufacturers
- Maintain meticulous documentation of work performed
- Provide leadership to the junior technical team
- Willingness to engage in domestic and worldwide travel to coordinate work with suppliers, manufacturers and customers (up to 20%)
Basic Qualifications
- Strong technical background in polymer/material science, thin films, coatings, and associated technologies
- Strong background in thermal, mechanical, and optical properties for polymer multilayer films using advanced analytical tools like DMA/DHR, DSC, FTIR, TGA, profilometer, optical microscopy, etc.
- Strong understanding of design of experiments and corresponding data analysis
- Knowledge in polymer film processing, roll to roll, sheet extrusion and related technologies
- Experience working with domestic and international vendors
- Minimum of bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5+ years of relevant experience. Advanced degree preferred
- Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to drive programs from concept to production/commercialization
- Willingness to work in office in San Antonio, TX
XPEL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM
- 5+ years of relevant experience
- Strong technical background in polymer/material science, thin films, and coatings
- Experience with thermal, mechanical, and optical characterization (DMA/DHR, DSC, FTIR, TGA, profilometer, optical microscopy)
- Knowledge of polymer film processing (roll-to-roll, sheet extrusion)
- Understanding of design of experiments and data analysis
- Experience working with domestic and international vendors
- Experience driving programs from concept to production/commercialization
- Strong communication skills and ability to work with interdisciplinary stakeholders
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to ~20%
- Willingness to work in office in San Antonio, TX
- Advanced degree in STEM
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The Company
What We Do
XPEL is a global provider of protective films, coatings, and related services for automotive, watercraft, home, and office applications. Its offerings include paint protection film, window tint, surface-protection film, ceramic coatings, and interior-preservation products. The company also supports customers through installation services, trained installers, technical assistance, and proprietary software designed to help deliver high-quality protection solutions for customers across multiple consumer and commercial settings worldwide.
