Color Lab Engineer Job in St. Joseph 49085, Michigan Us
Job Description:
Whirlpool is currently searching for a color engineer/chemist with the right technical and leadership skills to fulfill a key role in the development of innovative product solutions. If you're interested in playing a key role in a fast paced, team-oriented technology organization and want to reach for higher levels of product performance, quality, safety, and value, than this is the position for you. We need someone who is highly motivated, has a strong eye for detail, a solid understanding of the chemistry of colors and finishes, excellent communication skills, and a passion for consumer-driven innovation.
This is a full time position, supporting the Global Product Organization (GPO), and reporting to Engineering and Technology. Responsibilities include component material pre-production color match for various categories including Refrigeration, Cleaning, Cooking, Fabric Care, and Portables products sold in North America, across all brands.
In this position you will have the opportunity to:
- Research, design and development of product system technologies that create a compelling value proposition for our customers and our business focused on the area of finishing and coatings strategies for stainless steel.
- Lead/Support color strategy development. Lead color match work on kitchen suites.
- Participate on project teams and work with industrial design and marketing to develop new colors, new finishes, clarify requirements, and estimate development times.
- Work with supply base to develop new chemistries, new colors and new finishes.
- Work with raw material and finished component suppliers to qualify new parts for production. Evaluate colors and communicate results to marketing, engineering, manufacturing, design, supply base, and procurement. Develop specifications for the suppliers to have to meet.
- Establish color tolerances for manufacturing, and support color quality control.
- Establish and certify physical color standards to targets provided by marketing.
- As necessary, provide training to supply base, manufacturing personnel, FPA coordinators, engineers, marketing, consumer industrial design, and trade partners.
- Optimization of aesthetic performance, reliability and cost.
- Data acquisition, analysis, and evaluation.
- Active participation in technical project reviews and innovation.
Requirements:
What you will need to succeed in this position:
· Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably chemistry, materials, physics, or mathematics. A master’s degree or higher is preferred.
· Understanding of color mathematics and theories (Cielab, CMC, YXY) and experience with color measurement equipment (spectrophotometer, gonio-spectrophotometer, gloss meter, and light booth) preferred.
· Basic understanding of appliance raw materials and processes, including injection molded plastics, paint, powder coatings, porcelain, stainless steel, and metallic coatings. Knowledge of materials color limitations would be a plus.
· Excellent written and oral communication skills, including use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and color software.
· Self directed work ethic, strong interpersonal skills, and serious ability to multi-task.
· Work experience in a field where art, design, or aesthetics are important would be an advantage.
· Strong project management skills, confidence, and influence management skills required.
· Some domestic travel and possibly some international travel required.
· Understanding of lean engineering principles to help drive continuous improvement within the department.
· Excellent strategic thought leadership capabilities
· Demonstrated interest and ability in thinking across disciplines and across teams
· Excellent track record of accomplishment of goals and objectives
· Outstanding people skills, with the specific ability to interact with team members
· Ability to work independently and as a self-starter
Additional Preferred Skills and Competencies:
• Previous experience working with global teams
• Experience in external partner development and management
• Experience in intellectual property documentation and development
- Whirlpool leadership requirements and qualifications:
Whirlpool prides itself on hiring great talent with the necessary leadership requirements and qualifications to achieve greatness. In this position, we are looking for a leader that possesses strong character and integrity, as well as confidence in their actions and decisions to ensure that Whirlpool products are exceeding consumer expectations. The leader must be able to communicate effectively with internal and external parties, and have the solid vision and strategy to meet product requirements and goals. With these attributes and practices, we believe that the leader will successfully provide extraordinary results and consistently drive change to continually add to Whirlpool's success.
Please send your resume's to: heather_fagerman_kx@whirlpool.com
Company Description:
Whirlpool is the industry leader in the manufacturing and marketing of home appliances. Whirlpool is a global company and markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names in more than 170 countries around the world.
Whirlpool is a company that creates innovative solutions and products to meet consumer needs. As a result, we have been recognized as one of the world's 100 most innovative companies by Business Week magazine and the Boston Consulting Group. Additionally, Whirlpool Corporation was ranked among the Top 20 Innovators in Consumer Products by The Patent Board and has been consistently ranked as one of the Top 20 Companies for Leaders by Hewitt Associates and Fortune magazine.
Our unique business strategy provides us with an unmatched leadership position and ability to build and sustain loyalty to our brands. Our strategy allows us to move with greater speed to better serve our trade customer and end consumers around the globe.