Product Development Scientist
Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions. Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.We are seeking a Product Development Scientist for our First Quality facility located in Lewistown, PA. This position will be responsible to create, develop, and implement new and proprietary designs of absorbent-related product systems based upon business, customer, and consumer needs as well as provide support for the needs of present product systems to assure competitive performance and value.Primary responsibilities include:Participate as a member of the Product Development team; execute projects in timely, diligent, safe, and professional manner, and contribute to the growth of the team and department.Design new products and product improvements to meet business and consumer needs.Develop new and improved materials and technologies with suppliers, and ensure all new raw materials obtain proper safety testing and clearance.Use basic Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques to develop experimental plans.Support the existing business product cost improvements through product redesigns.Provide technical support to reduce consumer complaints.Support corporate proprietary technology by documenting and patenting novel ideas.Develop new test methods to better predict and understand product performance in use.Work with more senior scientist or manager to help set project objectives.Coach and develop indirect reports to enhance team performance towards department objectives. The ideal candidate should possess the following:Four year technical degree (e.g. Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering) or equivalent; additional business studies preferred.3+ years in R&D inventing, developing and implementing new products.Knowledge of and experience with developing product systems for the retail market, p...