Sr. Market Development Engineer

Title: Sr. Market Development Engineer

Location: Pasadena, TX

Who we are:

Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber, and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supplies from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 32 countries and employs more than 12,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.

Why Kuraray:

Kuraray is building a better tomorrow, today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability.

As a part of Kuraray America, Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service. Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Market Development Engineer to drive the growth of EVAL across the Americas within our Technical Service & Development (TS&D) organization. This role emphasizes business development and sits at the intersection of packaging technology, brand-owner engagement, and food science. Those skills are critical to expanding the adoption of sustainable, high‑oxygen‑barrier solutions in food packaging, among other applications.

The candidate will identify and develop new market opportunities for EVAL, work with brand owners (mainly food manufacturers in the US) to promote high-performance, sustainable solutions, and partner with the rest of the value chain (converters, polymer processors, and equipment and resin suppliers) to accelerate the adoption of innovation. The candidate will leverage their skills and industry network to bridge our technical expertise to deliver commercialized solutions. This role requires experience in food packaging, the ability to develop and deploy market-facing technical tools, and the skills to work with cross-functional teams (sales, R&D, sustainability, innovation, and marketing).

Responsibilities:

Market & Business Development

• Research global market trends, consumer demands, benchmark studies, recycling standards, and sustainability drivers.
• Actively engage with brand owners, particularly in the US market, to understand packaging pain points, sustainability targets, and commercialization constraints.
• Leverage industry relationships and network with brand owners to identify early-stage opportunities and influence material and structure selection.
• Support new product introductions through market analysis, application demonstrations, and compelling customer presentations.
• Identify and develop new market opportunities for EVAL in food packaging (primary focus), as well as pharma and selected industrial applications.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams: with TS&D to develop viable technical solutions, with Sales to advance and close opportunities, and with Marketing Communications to document and publish successes.
• Work across the value chain (brand owners, converters, processors, equipment suppliers, resin suppliers, and food manufacturers) to develop case studies demonstrating sustainability, performance, and business value

Technical and Environmental Support

• Conduct extrusion trials on pilot-scale equipment to process EVOH in blown or cast film structures.
• Execute or coordinate forming, filling, and sealing trials to evaluate packaging performance under realistic conditions.
• Interpret oxygen and moisture barrier data, mechanical properties, and sealing performance, translating results into decision‑enabling insights for brand owners.
• Represent the company in industry associations and technical forums, positioning EVAL as leading solutions for circular, recyclable high‑barrier packaging.
• Partner with Marketing Communications to develop publications, technical articles, and promotional content, coordinating approvals locally and globally (including with Kuraray Japan).

Food Science & Application Innovation

• Design and execute food stability studies using EVAL packaging technologies, benchmarking performance against traditional, non‑recyclable high‑barrier structures.
• Apply food science and packaging expertise to assess product aging, and oxygen/moisture sensitivity, and recommend optimized packaging structures.
• Translate experimental results into customer-facing technical tools (data packages, value stories, demonstrations) that support market development and brand engagement.
• Generate application data, technical reports, and training materials for internal teams and external stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Travel (~30%) to customer and brand-owner sites, conferences, and international meetings across North and South America.
• Present technical findings, trial outcomes, and market insights to customers, brand owners, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead projects through influence, collaborating with cross‑functional and multicultural teams (R&D, Sales, Marketing, Technical Service) to drive commercialization.
• Contribute to product innovation, circular economy, and sustainability initiatives.
• Evaluate product performance, market impact, and customer or brand owner ROI.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Polymer Science, Plastics Engineering, Materials Science, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in packaging applications, food science, or related technical roles (experience in brands is strongly preferred).
• Experience in business development, technical marketing, or market-facing technical role in the US food packaging market.
• Established professional network with brand owners, converters, or key packaging decision-makers strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of plastic materials and converting processes (extrusion, lamination, printing).
• Understanding of food stability, shelf-life testing, and packaging performance evaluation.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and project management skills.
• Analytical, customer-oriented mindset with the ability to translate technical data into business value.
• Innovative mindset with adaptability to diverse working environments
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.
• Candidates must have a valid driver's license.

Competencies:

• Customer Focus

• Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

• Business Insight

• Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.

• Cultivates Innovation

• Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

• Action Oriented

• Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.

• Ensures Accountability

• Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

• Drives Results

• Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstance

• Collaborates

• Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

• Values Difference

• Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization

• Communicates Effectively

• Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

• Courage

• Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.

• Instills Trust

• Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

• Situational Adaptability

• Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.

Our employees benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as three weeks of paid time off, ten company holidays, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, and a matching 401k plan, among other offerings.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Learn more at kuraray.us.com/careers/

Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/disability/protected veteran status

No third-party candidates accepted.