Project Engineer Jobs in California

Company Profile

Arlon Graphics, LLC is a cast vinyl manufacturing company in the business of creating innovative material for visual expression. Founded in 1958, Arlon Graphics manufactures and markets high-quality pressure-sensitive materials for the fleet, architectural, digital imaging, and signage markets. Through more than 180 distribution partners across the globe, a growing number of strategically-positioned sales offices and warehouses, and customer-centric operations, Arlon is recognized as a global leader in graphic films. Join the Arlon Graphics conversation and follow us at @arlongraphics on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. For more information, visit arlon.com.

Why Work Here

• Vacation, Sick and Holiday Pay (collectively 26 days/year)
• Great company culture (Great Place to Work certified)
• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, & Vision)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
• Life Insurance
• Career Development Support
• Annual Bonus Pay potential

Overview

The R&D Engineer III leads significant, technically complex product development projects from definition through scale-up and launch and mentors others without requiring people-management responsibility. The role combines rigorous scientific and engineering methods with knowledge of material properties, structure-property relationships, product design, and application requirements. By establishing technical approaches, resolving ambiguous cross-functional problems, and influencing manufacturing, quality, product management, suppliers, and customers, the engineer improves product performance and manufacturability, reduces technical risk, and achieves measurable business and technical outcomes.

General Responsibilities

• Independently lead significant projects through the Stage-Gate process.
• Define technical approaches, project test plans, specifications, and acceptance criteria aligned with project scope and customer requirements.
• Perform laboratory testing using appropriate technical equipment; ensure data quality, interpret results, and translate findings into evidence-based technical decisions.
• Plan and lead development trials on production lines with operators, defining trial objectives, controls, and success criteria.
• Manage project status, resources, schedules, and budgets; identify delivery risks, recommend trade-offs, and escalate issues beyond the assigned project scope or authority.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Technical Service, Sales, and customers to translate voice-of-customer requirements into validated product testing and acceptance criteria.
• Present project updates, technical findings, risk assessments, and evidence-based recommendations; resolve conflicting requirements with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Process Engineering and Quality teams to lead product scale-up, qualification, and manufacturing transfer, ensuring product quality and launch readiness.
• Lead technical engagement with suppliers and procurement to identify, evaluate, and qualify solutions that meet project requirements.
• Design and perform experiments that address project hypotheses and technical risks, ensuring conformance with scientific methods and documented procedures.
• Lead difficult root-cause investigations, identify process gaps, and implement improvements with measurable effects on quality, cost, manufacturability, or development speed.
• Prepare and maintain product documentation, instruction manuals, project notebooks, and design and test records; capture reusable methods, findings, and lessons learned.
• Ensure proper maintenance of laboratory equipment and update internal test methods where applicable.
• Identify, validate, and implement new test methods that adhere to sound scientific practices and improve the reliability or efficiency of testing.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians in experimental design, data interpretation, problem-solving, and project execution; share technical knowledge across the team.
• Develop novel technical solutions within assigned projects; document potentially protectable innovations and contribute to intellectual-property review with appropriate stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or engineering field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Seven (7)+ years of related product-development experience, with demonstrated capability to independently lead significant, complex projects.
• Demonstrated success independently leading significant product-development projects from initiation through scale-up and launch.
• Strong applied knowledge of the Stage-Gate process, DOE, and Six Sigma tools, including FMEA, process mapping, and root-cause analysis; ability to select appropriate methods and defend technical conclusions.
• Strong understanding and practical application of Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Proficiency in appropriate laboratory tools, including FTIR, tensile testers, and liner release testers; ability to select methods, assess data quality, and interpret material and product performance.
• Proficiency in Minitab, SAP, and EDOC.
• Strong listening, verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional decisions and mentor junior engineers and technicians.

Pay Transparency
The current pay for this position is between $100K - $120K/year. Rate of pay will depend on factors such as market conditions and location, job-related knowledge and skills, education, training and experience. If hired, employment will be at will. The Company reserves the right to modify pay, as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program, at any time.

EEO Statement
Arlon is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable laws. (pm18)