Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials | Pune - Ranjangaon
3M · Maharashtra
3M has a long-standing reputation as a company committed to innovation. We provide the freedom to explore and encourage curiosity and creativity. We gain new insight from diverse thinking, and take risks on new ideas. Here, you can apply your talent in bold ways that matter.Job Description:
Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and innovative Product Developer – Polymer & Electrical Materials to lead the development, optimization, industrialization, and lifecycle management of polymer-based products and materials for Medium Voltage (MV) cable accessories and electrical applications.
This role will be responsible for translating customer and application requirements into innovative material and product solutions, with a strong focus on polymer formulation, product development, process development, manufacturing scale-up, validation, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in polymer science, formulation, processing, and product development, along with an understanding of electrical insulation and MV cable applications.
Key Responsibilities
Product & Material Development
Lead the development and optimization of polymer and elastomeric formulations for electrical applications.
Develop materials based on cross-linked polyolefins, EPDM/EPR, silicone, thermoplastic and thermoset systems, polymer blends, and composites.
Develop and optimize materials to achieve required electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental performance.
Design and develop products for MV cable accessories, including:
Heat-shrinkable insulation tubes
Stress-control tubes
Anti-tracking components
Breakout systems
Cable joint and termination components
Busbar insulation products
Other specialized electrical insulation products
Develop and improve specialty materials such as hot-melt adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, sealants, mastics, water-blocking compounds, semi-conductive compounds, and stress-control materials.
Conduct material characterization, formulation optimization, product validation, and technical failure investigations.
Process Development & Manufacturing Scale-Up
Develop, optimize, and validate manufacturing processes for polymeric and elastomeric products.
Establish process parameters and operating windows for:
Polymer compounding
Twin-screw and single-screw extrusion
Co-extrusion and multilayer extrusion
Injection and compression molding
Crosslinking processes
Tube expansion technologies for heat-shrinkable products
Adhesive coating and lamination
Lead scale-up activities from laboratory and pilot development through commercial manufacturing.
Establish robust process windows to achieve consistent product quality, high yields, and improved manufacturing efficiency.
Conduct process capability studies and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
Troubleshoot manufacturing issues related to materials, tooling, equipment, and process variation.
Electrical Product & Application Development
Apply materials and polymer expertise to medium voltage cable systems, cable joints, terminations, and electrical insulation applications.
Develop products to meet requirements for:
Dielectric strength
Electrical insulation performance
Tracking and erosion resistance
Thermal endurance
Thermal conductivity
Mechanical properties
Environmental resistance
Support product development involving stress control, electrical field grading, and insulation coordination.
Collaborate with electrical, application, manufacturing, quality, and other technical teams to ensure product performance meets application requirements.
Product Industrialization & Lifecycle Management
Lead product development activities from concept, formulation, prototype, and validation through industrialization and commercialization.
Ensure successful technical transfer of new products and processes from R&D to manufacturing.
Identify opportunities to improve existing products in terms of performance, quality, reliability, cost, and manufacturability.
Provide technical support throughout the product lifecycle.
Lead technical investigations related to product failures, customer complaints, and manufacturing issues.
Technical Documentation & Compliance
Develop and maintain product specifications, formulations, manufacturing instructions, process specifications, and technical reports.
Prepare and maintain Design FMEAs, Control Plans, validation documentation, and other technical records.
Ensure products and processes comply with applicable quality, environmental, health, safety, regulatory, and industry requirements.
Support testing and qualification activities against relevant electrical and cable industry standards.
Innovation & Cross-Functional Leadership
Identify and evaluate new materials, technologies, processes, and product opportunities.
Lead cross-functional product development projects involving R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Sourcing, and Commercial teams.
Apply Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, SPC, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving to accelerate product development and improve process robustness.
Communicate technical findings, project progress, risks, and recommendations effectively to technical and business stakeholders.
Qualifications
Education
Master's degree in one of the following disciplines:
Polymer Engineering / Polymer Science
Plastics Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Materials Science / Materials Engineering
Rubber Technology
Electrical Engineering with strong experience in polymers/materials
A Ph.D. or relevant postgraduate qualification will be an advantage.
Experience
10+ years of relevant industrial experience in product development, polymer formulation, materials development, or process development.
Strong hands-on experience in polymer formulation, processing, product development, and manufacturing scale-up.
Experience in one or more of the following industries is highly desirable:
Heat-shrinkable products
Medium/high-voltage cable accessories
Wire and cable
Electrical insulation products
Polymer compounding
Rubber and elastomer products
Specialty adhesives, sealants, or mastics
Electrical materials
Technical Expertise
Required
Polymer formulation and material development
Polyolefin and elastomeric systems
Polymer compounding and processing
Extrusion technologies
Product development and validation
Manufacturing scale-up and industrialization
Root-cause analysis and technical problem solving
Cross-functional project management
Preferred
Heat-shrinkable product technology
Crosslinking technologies
MV cable accessories
Cable joints and terminations
Electrical insulation materials
Stress-control materials
Anti-tracking materials
Adhesives, sealants, and mastics
Electrical field grading
DoE and statistical process control
FMEA and Control Plans
Key Competencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
Innovation and product development mindset
Strong understanding of polymer/material science
Hands-on approach to technical problem solving
Ability to translate material science into commercial products
Strong project and stakeholder management skills
Ability to work effectively across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Commercial teams
Excellent technical communication, report writing, and presentation skills
Impact of the Role
This role will play a critical part in developing next-generation polymeric and electrical material solutions for MV cable accessories and related electrical applications.
The successful candidate will be expected to innovate materials, develop products, establish manufacturing processes, lead scale-up and commercialization, and continuously improve the product portfolio to deliver high-performance, reliable, and manufacturable solutions.
Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.
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