Job Requirements for Plastics Engineers and Plastics Technicians

Teenage Years

College preparatory courses in English, government, foreign languages, and history are recommended if you want to work as a plastics engineer or technician after high school. You would benefit from taking more courses in chemistry, physics, and other hard sciences. Computer education is also crucial. Vocational training, drafting, and other courses that provide you with hands-on experience in the design and production processes are also highly recommended.

Education Beyond High School

Depending on the specifics of the plastics processes at hand, the post-secondary education requirements for plastics engineers can range widely. In order to work in the plastics industry, a bachelor’s degree in any field is usually sufficient. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering is typically required for companies that specialize in the creation of proprietary parts. Overall, there is currently a lack of qualified individuals in the field of plastics engineering, where relevant work experience is essential for entry-level positions.

If you are interested in learning more about two- and four-year plastics engineering degree programs, you may reach out to the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI). Materials science, materials engineering, polymer science, and plastics engineering are all names for the same thing. General scholarships are available to students enrolled in engineering programs through the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). The annual award amount is up to $4,000, and the award period can be extended for up to three more years. Plastics engineering education is also offered by some military services.

Community colleges, technical institutes, and vocational-technical institutions may offer training for a career in plastics engineering technology. Plastics classes are sometimes a part of the curriculum for those studying to become mechanical or chemical technicians. Apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training can be done alongside formal education. The three-shift system used by many businesses makes it easy to work around school hours. Cooperative education and work-study programs allow students to combine paid jobs with academic coursework. This is a cooperative effort between the academic institution and the business sector through which students can earn college credit while working a predetermined number of hours per month.

Students thinking about a career in the military should look into the several branches that provide plastics training. Each branch of the U.S. armed forces (Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army) has its own research and development division, publishes procurement standards, and runs repair facilities.

A Valid Certificate or Permit

SPI has established the National Certification in Plas­tics program; however, it is not compulsory. Certified engineers have met the minimum standards for both education and experience and have passed an examination to prove it. All fifty states and the District of Columbia require professional registration for engineers whose work poses a risk to public health and safety. Registration requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering from a recognized institution and four years of relevant work experience. A written test is required as well.

Plastics technicians can choose to become certified through the SPI, but it is not required of them. Complexity increases in machinery, which means that certified technicians may be more desirable to hire. You can specialize in blow molding, extrusion, injection molding, or thermoforming to earn your national certification in plastics as a certified operator credential. You can take the test online or at any of a number of testing centers and community colleges all around the country if you’re interested in working in the plastics sector.

In addition to

Engineers specializing in plastics require strong mechanical aptitude, an understanding of plastics and their processes, and imagination to create plastic components. They must communicate effectively with coworkers and have excellent listening and reading comprehension skills. People with hearing loss and physical handicaps excel in fields like R&D, testing, quality control, mold design, inspection, and sales. High school students interested in engineering can join JETS for group projects and networking opportunities. Guidance counselors and students can set up presentations, Q&A sessions, and factory tours for students. Summer internships in processing factories can provide exposure to the plastics industry.

Employers

Manufacturers of plastic goods, materials, and resins need the services of plastics engineers and experts. DuPont, General Motors, and Owens-Corning are three of the largest plastics employers in the United States. Tenneco Packaging, Solo Cup Company, and Ivex Packaging Corporation are just a handful of the leading thermoforming enterprises headquartered in Illinois. Injection molding powerhouses including Lear Corporation, UT Automotive, and Venture Industries Corporation are headquartered in Michigan. However, major plastics manufacturers can be found in every state.

Advancement

Experienced plastics engineers have the luxury of moving to practically any position within the plastics sector due to their extensive education, training, and knowledge. Engineers can climb the corporate ladder to become divisional or corporate directors of engineering, for instance. Working for more prominent firms is one path to professional progress. Sales and marketing positions are an excellent fit for seasoned plastics engineers due to their knowledge of materials and ability to match goods to applications. They can help shape the next generation of engineers by sharing their knowledge as professors or reporters for specialized periodicals.

Plastics technicians with experience and education are in high demand and can expect promising career prospects. In-house training programs are offered by several businesses, and many also offer financial aid to technicians who further their studies at reputable institutions. A person who shows promise in sales or customer service is first educated in a variety of production processes. Professional opportunities for those with college degrees include management, quality assurance, purchasing, and budgeting. Creative technicians may collaborate with clients to design goods and molds, or they may pursue further education to become plastics engineers.

Earnings

Plastics engineers fall under the umbrella of materials engineers, for whom the 2005 median annual pay in the United States was $69,660. Annual salaries were lower than $44,090 and higher than $105,330. In 2005, technicians who set up, ran, and maintained various machinery such as those used for molding, coremaking, casting, forging, rolling, and extruding made anywhere from $16,640 to $39,650 or more.

Engineers and technicians in the plastics industry typically receive health and dental insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off for both vacation and illness. Production bonuses, stock options, and funding for professional development are just some of the perks that larger companies can provide their engineers.

Context of Employment

Plastics engineers interact with workers at all levels and stages of production, often requiring formal dress and working longer hours than usual. They can work in offices or labs, either in teams or alone. Working environments are diverse, with sterile labs, cool, quiet, and well-lit labs. Regular muscle strength is required, and strict safety measures are taken. The workplace is clean and tidy, with injection molding facilities being quiet, extrusion facilities being calm, and laminating processes requiring strict tidiness. Molds require temperatures of 300 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be uncomfortable during summer.

Employment Prospects for Plastics Engineers and Technicians

Even though the plastics business is feeling the pinch of a weakening economy and rising production costs, plastics engineers are less likely to be laid off than other workers. Opportunities for skilled plastics engineers are expected to increase as more sectors expand their use of plastics in manufacturing. Plastics engineers will be in demand as the use of plastics to replace traditional materials such as glass, paper, and metal increases. Environmentally friendly product and process development is a growing need across industries, and plastics engineers will play a key role in this. Experienced engineers will create a large number of jobs in adjacent fields within the plastics business, such as sales, management, and administration. As is always the case, those with the most advanced levels of talent and experience will have the brightest professional futures. Jobs for materials engineers, which include plastics engineers, are expected to rise at a rate similar to the national average between now and 2014.

According to the USDL, the job market for plastics technicians is anticipated to get worse before it gets better in 2014. However, qualified graduates of technical degrees should be able to find jobs in the plastics business because it spans so many career categories. Those who invest in themselves academically and develop a wide range of abilities and talents will position themselves favorably.