Overview
Eldon James Corporation is an innovative, world-class manufacturer and global supplier of proprietary plastic connection solutions, tubing, and assembled products serving medical, bioprocess, industrial, chemical, water, food/beverage, and other demanding markets.
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Injection Molding Process Technician / Process Development Molder to set up and configure molding equipment, support new product launches, process development, mold trials, validation activities, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of existing injection molding operations. The ideal candidate is an experienced hands-on molder who understands the science behind the process and can develop, document, stabilize, and improve molding processes in a controlled manufacturing environment.
This position will work closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, Tooling, and Maintenance to meet production goals, operate molding equipment, establish robust molding processes, resolve chronic production issues, reduce scrap, improve repeatability, and support validated production requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Daily operation of molding machines and related equipment to produce quality products. Includes mold hanging, machine configuration, watering, and processing to meet production goals and deadlines.
- Develop, establish, and optimize injection molding processes using scientific molding principles.
- Apply decoupled molding methods, including separation and control of fill, pack, and hold phases.
- Establish and document repeatable process windows for new and existing molds.
- Perform mold trials, process studies, startup evaluations, and process optimization activities.
- Support validation activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ-style production readiness, process window confirmation, and documented process approval.
- Troubleshoot molding defects such as short shots, flash, sink, warp, splay, burns, dimensional drift, knit/weld line issues, gate blush, sticking, contamination, and inconsistent cavity performance.
- Use structured root cause analysis to identify whether issues are related to process, material, machine, mold/tooling, measurement, operator method, or environmental conditions.
- Make data-driven process adjustments and document the rationale for changes.
- Support corrective and preventive action investigations involving molded product defects, customer complaints, internal nonconformances, and process instability.
- Collaborate with Quality and Engineering to evaluate product dimensional data, process capability, part performance, and inspection feedback.
- Develop and maintain molding recipes, setup sheets, process parameters, and control process documentation.
- Support controlled changes to molding processes, tooling, equipment, materials, and production methods.
- Train and mentor molding technicians and operators in proper setup, startup, troubleshooting, and process control practices.
- Evaluate tooling condition and work with Tooling/Maintenance to identify issues such as wear, venting problems, flash conditions, galling, cooling problems, gate issues, or cavity imbalance.
- Assist with mold maintenance evaluations, tooling repairs, and production readiness reviews.
- Monitor process alarms, machine trends, cycle data, shot consistency, and other key indicators of process health.
- Support continuous improvement projects focused on scrap reduction, cycle time improvement, process stability, labor efficiency, and defect prevention.
- Mold maintenance and inspection.
- Clean and maintain work area to ensure safe and efficient work environment.
- Work within Eldon James’ ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality management system requirements.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 7 years of hands-on injection molding experience, with demonstrated experience developing or improving molding processes.
- Strong understanding of scientific molding and decoupled molding principles.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex molding defects and process instability.
- Experience establishing or optimizing molding process parameters, including injection speed, transfer position, cushion, pack/hold pressure, hold time, screw recovery, back pressure, melt temperature, mold temperature, cooling time, clamp force, and cycle time.
- Ability to interpret part drawings, tolerances, inspection results, setup sheets, and production documentation.
- Working knowledge of thermoplastic materials and how material behavior affects molding outcomes.
- Ability to identify when a problem is likely caused by process, tooling, material, equipment, or measurement variation.
- Ability to communicate clearly with Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Management.
- Strong documentation discipline and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently while also supporting cross-functional teams.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Preferred Qualifications
- RJG, Paulson, AIM Institute, Master Molder, or equivalent scientific molding training.
- Experience with process validation in ISO 9001, ISO 13485, medical, pharmaceutical, bioprocess, or other controlled manufacturing environments.
- Experience with IQ/OQ/PQ, DOE, capability studies, process window development, and process transfer.
- Experience with engineered resins such as polypropylene, polysulfone, polycarbonate, PVDF, nylon, HDPE, LDPE, or other performance plastics.
- Experience supporting CAPA, nonconforming product investigations, customer complaints, or formal root cause corrective action.
Key Competencies
- Scientific molding mindset
- Structured problem solving
- Root cause analysis
- Process development
- Process validation support
- Mold and tooling awareness
- Data-driven decision making
- Strong documentation habits
- Quality and customer focus
- Cross-functional communication
- Continuous improvement
- Mentoring and technical leadership
Example Technical Knowledge Areas
Qualified candidates should be comfortable discussing and applying concepts such as:
- Decoupled I, II, or III molding
- Fill-only studies
- Viscosity curve studies
- Gate seal studies
- Cavity balance
- Pack and hold optimization
- Transfer position and cushion control
- Shear rate and shear heating
- Melt temperature versus barrel temperature
- Mold temperature control
- Cooling time optimization
- Short shot analysis
- Dimensional variation
- Warpage and shrinkage
- Flash and clamp force evaluation
- Venting, burns, and trapped gas
- Knit/weld line behavior
- Process capability and repeatability
- Process alarms and controlled shutdown limits
Job Type
Full-time, in person
Pay: Up to $51.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
