Materials Systems & Application Engineer

Trane Technologies - Davidson, NC

Full-time - Mid Level

Davidson, NC

Machinery Manufacturing

About the position

The Materials Systems & Application Engineer at Trane Technologies will play a crucial role in advancing and integrating innovative materials and technologies within the company's product lines. This position focuses on developing and implementing strategies for material data management, collaborating with various teams to establish standardized processes, and leading initiatives in additive manufacturing. The engineer will work closely with strategic business units to ensure the effective application of materials in product development and sustainability efforts.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and deliver on key objectives for the application of materials in new product development, quality and reliability projects, and cost improvement initiatives.
• Develop and lead the strategy for material data management, ensuring alignment with business goals and key initiatives such as Model-Based Engineering (MBE) and Sustainability.
• Create and implement standard procedures and workflows for material data management to maintain a single source of truth for critical material data across the organization.
• Establish and enforce data management protocols and standards to ensure efficient and effective use of material data.
• Collaborate with internal modeling and IT teams to develop strategies for utilizing AI and machine learning tools for material data.
• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive additive manufacturing (AM) strategy, setting short-term and long-term goals, including key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
• Identify and assess emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in additive manufacturing to keep the company at the industry's forefront.
• Implement and integrate matured technologies and capabilities into new product development programs.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently while also addressing short-term sustaining engineering needs, such as failure analysis, supply disruptions, quality issues, and general consulting.
• Utilize appropriate analytical and testing methods in designing parts, selecting suitable manufacturing materials and processes, and creating test plans to ensure products meet or exceed customer requirements.
• Conduct technical design reviews as part of the product development process and coordinate with external suppliers and partners on technical requirements and deliverables.
• Promote sustainability by using tools that optimize part designs to minimize waste, evaluating sustainable materials for each application, and identifying and maturing new technologies to reduce the company's carbon footprint.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Material Science or Chemical Engineering.
• Extensive knowledge of MBE (Model-Based Engineering) and MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering) methodologies, tools, and frameworks.
• Proficiency with software tools and platforms for material data management and integration within MBE/MBSE environments, such as PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, and specialized material data management software.
• Ability to develop and implement material data management strategies that align with the organization's MBE/MBSE goals.
• Deep understanding of key material properties and methods for material characterization required for modeling and simulation analysis.
• Comprehensive and current expertise in the latest additive manufacturing techniques (e.g., FDM, SLS, SLA, DMLS) and materials (e.g., polymers, metals, composites).
• Proven ability to stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in additive manufacturing.
• Creative and innovative thinker capable of developing novel solutions and advancing the possibilities of additive manufacturing technologies.
• Proficient in CAD software (e.g., CREO, AutoCAD, Fusion 360) and advanced design tools (e.g., generative design tools, additive slicer programs).
• Experienced in guiding and understanding Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for part optimization.
• Strong program/project management skills with a solid understanding of stage gate product development processes.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical abilities to address and resolve technical issues.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in coordinating external collaborations with suppliers, external laboratories, universities, national labs, and other partners.
• Ability to document and define standard work for mature processes; capable of mentoring and teaching others to apply advanced technologies.

Benefits

• Health insurance and holistic wellness programs that include generous incentives.
• Family building benefits including fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• 401K match up to 6%, plus an additional 2% core contribution.
• Paid time off, including in support of volunteer and parental leave needs.
• Educational and training opportunities through company programs along with tuition assistance and student debt support.