Job Description:

Introduction:

At GAF, we cover more than buildings. We cover each other. No matter what role, tenure, or track, under this roof you are empowered to be there for your teammates, your customers, and especially your community. Under this roof, we don’t back down from hard work– we support one another in pursuit of something bigger. We define the future while leading the present. And under this roof, we own our opportunities. Becoming the market leader only happens when everyone feels they have the opportunity, and the support, to thrive. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most.

Summary:

Reporting to GAF’s Director of Commercial R&D Systems Engineering, the Senior Research Engineer (Mechanical) is responsible for driving and contributing to new product development programs that provide critical solutions to our customers while driving profitable growth. Work may include areas such as: research, new product development, predictive modeling, materials enhancements and/or cost-out initiatives. Work with internal and external partners to build the innovation pipeline and develop next generation products and manufacturing process improvements.

We are looking for Senior Research Engineer who will lead materials and product development efforts for exterior waterproofing applications in commercial roofing business. The primary role will be to improve existing core products and develop new products with a systems mindset to meet the evolving needs of our commercial roofing customers. The successful candidate will be a well-rounded engineer with a specialization in mechanical engineering field with knowledge in materials, mechanical design and computer modeling skills. The candidate will have knowledge in various materials including metals, polymeric materials including single-ply TPO/PVC membranes, polymer modified asphaltic membranes, foam insulation, adhesives and coatings. The candidate must have experience in mechanical design aspects, prototyping using 3D printers, and testing of multi-component composite systems against desired metrics. Experience in finite element modeling or building sciences would be a plus.

The Senior Research Engineer will understand customer insights, help to transform insights into new product development opportunities with well-articulated value proposition. This position will collaborate closely with Marketing, Operations, Legal, Sourcing, and Sales teams as well as external technical partners to drive business results.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Initiating, and collaboratively planning and executing waterproofing system development projects from inception through commercialization.

• Identifying new product design, process, and raw materials development opportunities for waterproofing systems, components, and accessories based on customer insights

• Improving/developing advanced characterization and analytical techniques to understand product performance, with a focus on product failure mode analysis and fundamental understanding of material behavior.

• Leveraging design of experiment techniques to plan and perform testing and conduct trials in the laboratory and production phase of product development

• Using statistical methods, scientific and engineering principles, and computer modeling to analyze and interpret experimental data and help make data-driven decisions.

• Leading and executing plant trials that validate the performance of new product constructions.

• Fabricating product prototypes and conducting field evaluations

• Employing creativity to solve open-ended problems while assuring precision in experiments, as well as sound decision-making.

• Distilling high-level theoretical concepts into practical, useful product platforms, features and innovations.

• Collaborating with internal and external test organizations to prepare for scale-up readiness.

Under This Roof, We Require

• Minimum MS in Mechanical engineering with materials expertise coupled with 4 to 6 years’ product development experience. Prefer PhD in Mechanical engineering with design and materials expertise with 2 to 3 years experience in new product development.

• Strong knowledge in engineering mechanics, FEA modeling, CAD software, 3D printing, heat and mass transfer, and composites failure mode analysis.

• Experience in polymeric single ply roofing membrane (e.g. TPO/PVC), insulation materials, adhesives, and coatings for waterproofing applications is preferred.

Under This Roof, We Also Value

• Demonstrated ability to gather customer insights and translating them into product development opportunities.

• Ability to drive projects with cross-functional collaboration

• Unconditional commitment to safety on and off the job.

• Experience championing technical projects--demonstrated strengths in leading, teaching, and mentoring others.

• Working knowledge in various materials characterization tools and performance testing.

• Demonstrated ability to take a product concept from the laboratory to the plant and ultimately to commercialization.

• “Hands-on” experience in a working lab setting, preferably with process experience.

• Familiarity with sheet metal fabrication, coating, and web converting operations preferred.

How We Protect What Matters Most

• We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.

• Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood.

• Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions.

• Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence.

• Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program.

• We put diversity and inclusion into action with our Employee Resource Groups, which unite employees based on common perspectives, identities, demographic factors, or out of a desire to be an ally.

GAF complies with federal, state, and local disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR Services at 833-HR-XPERT.

We believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and GAF, Standard Logistics, SGI, and Siplast are proud to be affirmative action employers. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. If applying for positions in the U.S., must be eligible to work in the U.S. without need for employer sponsored visa (work permit).

Privacy Policy (https://www.gaf.com/en-us/about-us/privacy-and-legal/privacy-policy) CA Privacy Applicant Notice (https://www.gaf.com/en-us/about-us/privacy-and-legal/applicant-privacy-notice)

With 130+ years in the industry, GAF is the leading roofing manufacturer in North America. As a member of the Standard Industries family of companies, we are also part of the largest roofing and waterproofing business in the world.

Our communities help give our work meaning and the products we manufacture help protect what matters most. The shingles help to shelter the families living in the homes in our towns. The TPO helps protect what is under that hospital’s roof. In addition to quality products, we make sure they are installed by quality craftsmen and women. The full GAF portfolio of solutions is supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors.

GAF continues to be the leader in quality and offers comprehensive warranty protection on its products and systems. Our success is driven by a commitment to empowering our people to deliver advanced quality and purposeful innovation and the desire to protect what matters most. ​