Plastics engineers develop, test, research, and troubleshoot plastics for various industries, using their knowledge of chemistry and physics. They create new plastic products and test their sustainability, analyze academic research, and solve problems using critical thinking skills.
A plastics engineer specializes in plastics, the semi-liquid chemical polymers used every day. This job requires a firm understanding of chemistry and physics in order to perform the various roles within the industry. In tasks such as development, research, testing, and troubleshooting, plastics engineering is needed by organizations as diverse as car manufacturers, toy manufacturers, and food storage.
Development is unquestionably one of the most important roles for a plastics engineer. New techniques and new chemical combinations are constantly being created to better serve the plastics market, and engineers are leading the way in inventing these new plastic products. Applying skills learned from earning an engineering degree, these engineers often work in laboratories to develop plastics. They are likely asked for their experience because a customer needs plastic that is stronger, lighter, or cheaper than what was already in use.
Testing is part of the development part of a plastics engineer’s job. Using his expertise in the chemical and physical capabilities of plastics, the engineer puts new products through vigorous testing to prove their sustainability. Climatic tests, resistance tests, thermal tests at high and low temperatures, chemical tests and even electrical conductivity tests are applied to various plastics. If a plastic fails the test, the engineer will usually return to the development stage to improve his design.
Research is another equally important element of this career. A plastics engineer should read academic research on the latest techniques and polymers created by other labs so that he better understands current advances. Furthermore, it is important for an engineer to be able to analyze the problems involved in the formation of certain plastics to determine how they were overcome. Fast, efficient search abilities help engineers stay productive and on the cutting edge when competition is fierce.
Troubleshooting is a constant concern for a plastics engineer. A typical day of testing and creating new products rarely goes smoothly, and engineers must use training and experience to overcome difficult engineering hurdles. By applying the scientific method and critical thinking skills, engineers are routinely seen as an organization’s top problem solvers. Often, an engineer with excellent problem-solving skills will be able to move into a managerial role because he is often called upon when the answers cannot be determined by others.
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