Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science company specializing in the design and manufacture of a wide variety of labeling and functional materials. The company’s products, which are used in nearly every major industry, include pressure-sensitive materials for labels and graphic applications; tapes and other bonding solutions for industrial, medical, and retail applications; tags, labels and embellishments for apparel; and radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions serving retail apparel and other markets. Headquartered in Glendale, California, the company employs more than 32,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Reported sales in 2020 were $7.0 billion. Learn more at www.averydennison.com.  

This position will be in the Fundamentals and Applications team, which is part of the Engineering Technology group at Avery Dennison, located in Azusa, California. The Engineering Technology group is responsible for developing, optimizing, and implementing proprietary process technologies and equipment for Avery Dennison manufacturing plants worldwide. Technologies can include; precision coating, extrusion, thermal embossing, drying/curing, lamination and other web-based processes such as printing and label converting. This position will support senior staff through all phases of project execution, from concept design, to scale-up, to commercialization and requires close collaboration with vendors and Avery Dennison plants globally.

• Develop a detailed physical model and understanding of heat and mass transfer processes and reaction kinetics in multicomponent polymeric systems (for example drying and curing processes) encountered in industrial production lines.

• Perform laboratory and/or pilot experiments to obtain the relevant parameters needed to describe the transport processes (drying and curing) in polymeric formulations.

• Set up new experiments and construct custom-made instruments in order to study multiphysics phenomena in polymers.

• Develop computer programs to simulate the multiphysics phenomena described earlier by using custom-written computer codes and/or available software.

• Use the computer programs and the data obtained from experiments to predict the performance of the industrial production lines.

• Collaborate with various divisions and assist them in optimizing their current product lines using the developed computer simulation software. 

• Work with product development teams from R&D and optimize material formulation that provides the target product performance.  

• Assist the product development team to scale up the formulations from lab to production. 

• Prepare comprehensive reports and present the results to the team.

• Keep up with current knowledge and continuously learn and use new concepts and technologies.

• Responsible for safe operation and experimentation in the laboratory.

• A graduate degree (MS or PhD) in chemical engineering, polymer science, materials science, or related fields (industrial experience is preferred).  

• Extensive experimental and theoretical knowledge of heat and mass transfer phenomena occurring during the drying and curing of polymeric solutions and mixtures.

• Detailed understanding of polymer-solvent phase equilibria, multicomponent species diffusion, and reaction kinetics and their application to drying and curing processes.   

• Strong mathematical skills in analytical and numerical solution to partial differential equations with focus on heat, mass, and momentum transfer and reaction kinetics in polymeric materials.

• Excellent computer programming skills for modeling and simulation of physical/chemical phenomena.

• Great knowledge of laboratory instruments used in polymer science, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and related fields (such as chromatograph, spectrometer, rheometer …).

• Knowledge of custom-laboratory instrument design and integration is preferred.

• Creativity and analytical thinking, as demonstrated by previous accomplishments and experience.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to both summarize critical results and to write in-depth technical reports.

• Motivated self-starter capable of independent research work with minimal supervision.

• Willing to travel within the US and internationally.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or other protected status. EEOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

If you require accommodations to view or apply for a job, alternative methods are available to submit an application. Please contact 440.534.6080 or [email protected] to discuss reasonable accommodations.