Materials Engineer - PCBA and Polymers

Country/Region: US

Location:

Livonia, MI, US, 48150

Req ID 69108 | Northville, Michigan - Livonia, United States

About the Team: ZF is seeking a Materials Engineer to work within their Corporate R&D Materials Technology team located at the new Northville, Michigan R&D Materials Lab. The Materials Lab is staffed with a cross functional team and equipment to analyze all material types. The Materials Engineer will work on both local and global material development projects, warranty claims, and occasional production quality topics. Projects will include consultation, administration, material development, and laboratory testing/failure analysis. Product exposure includes the entire ZF portfolio of electronics, braking, steering, transmissions, axles, suspension, chassis, and occupant safety. Materials may include electronics, textiles, plastics, elastomers, non-metallic coatings, and lubricants (grease and oil).

What you can look forward to as a Materials Engineer:

• Support ZF North America with laboratory testing of PCBA electronics and polymer materials, related problem solving and failure analysis, and competitive analysis.

• Prepare, analyze, and interpret data of polymer samples using FTIR, XRF, GC-MS, TGA, DSC, and DMA.

• Prepare, analyze, and interpret data of PCBA samples using optical microscopy, x-ray CT, ion chromatography, and SEM-EDS.

• Support ZF materials consultation activities including material requirement review, selection, specification creation, supplier quality support, and quality administration.

• Support Materials Technology projects related to efficiency and CO2 reduction by assisting with global materials portfolio projects.

• Determine corrective actions or propose alternative materials/processing based on lab findings or consultation experience.

• Teardown of mechanical and electronic assemblies to facilitate lab analysis while preserving the area of interest.

• Visual examination of PCBA for evaluation of tin whiskers, dendritic growth, cracking, corrosion, contamination, damage, and/or related criteria.

Your profile as a Materials Engineer:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science Engineering.

• Strong technical writing and presentation skills required.

• Experience with materials consultation and material processing required.

• Experience with hands-on analytical laboratory testing of polymer materials & PCBA electronic materials required.

• Knowledge of hand tools and automotive products required.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Knowledge of electronic assembly of PCBs and electronic materials desired.

• Experience with recommending new application PCBA/plastic/polymer/elastomer materials, alternative or regional materials, and material processing changes desired.

• Familiarity with supplier quality, materials management, and production quality systems desired.

• Familiarity with lab information management systems (LIMS) and related software tools desired.

Why Choose ZF? What We Offer:

• Annual Incentive Plan

• Paid Vacation

• 401k Plan

• Health Care Benefits

• Paid Holidays

• A strong diversity culture

• Supportive Employee Groups and community outreach activities

Be part of our ZF team as Materials Engineer - PCBA and Polymers and apply now!

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are more than just words for us. They are at the core of the ZF Way that propels our team members towards their utmost success. We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a natural reflex. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that every member of ZF can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape next generation mobility, safety, sustainability and social justice.

With four generations across 118 nationalities in 41 countries, ZF combines a unique variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. Together, we solve problems, drive innovation and shape next generation mobility.

Our company is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with us and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please contact us. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. ZF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran

What does DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) mean for ZF as a company?

At ZF, we continuously strive to build and maintain a culture where inclusiveness is lived and diversity is valued. We actively seek ways to remove barriers so that all our employees can rise to their full potential. We aim to embed this vision in our legacy through how we operate and build our products as we shape the future of mobility.

Find out how we work at ZF: