Research Engineer– Materials & Product R&D

BPC Bioproducts Private Limited (Amylo) is a material science startup developing bio-based and compostable alternatives to conventional plastics for flexible packaging and other applications.
We are looking for a Research Engineer with strong fundamentals in polymer/materials science and hands-on experience in material development, polymer processing and experimental research. The role involves taking materials from laboratory formulation and processing trials through characterization, optimization, scale-up and industrial validation.
Job Overview
The candidate will work closely with the R&D and product development team on the development of bio-based, biodegradable and compostable polymer materials and products.
The role requires a combination of research expertise, materials knowledge, polymer processing skills and practical problem-solving ability. The candidate will be expected to independently plan experiments, develop formulations, conduct processing trials, analyse results and work with external laboratories, manufacturers, suppliers and customers during product development and validation.
The position will involve travel to external facilities, manufacturing sites, testing laboratories and customer locations for material trials, processing trials and product validation, as required.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and optimize polymer formulations, compounds, masterbatches and functional materials for packaging and other applications.
Plan and execute material development experiments, including formulation design, processing conditions and comparative studies.
Conduct compounding and extrusion trials on laboratory, pilot and industrial-scale equipment.
Work with processes including twin-screw compounding, blown film, extrusion coating and other polymer processing techniques.
Coordinate with external testing laboratories for material characterization.
Analyse experimental data and prepare technical reports, trial reports and recommendations for further development.
Support scale-up from laboratory trials to pilot and industrial production, including process parameter development and optimization.
Work closely with equipment manufacturers and processing partners to develop suitable processing conditions and equipment configurations.
Identify and evaluate new polymers, additives, fillers, bio-based materials and processing technologies relevant to product development.
Support raw material and equipment procurement, including technical evaluation of suppliers, comparison of materials and vendor discussions.
Support the transition of successful laboratory formulations into commercially viable products, considering performance, cost, processability and scalability.
Maintain proper documentation of formulations, experimental conditions, processing parameters and test results.
Contribute to technical reports, presentations, intellectual property documentation and research publications, where applicable.
Desired Technical Expertise
The candidate should have a strong understanding of:
Polymer science and materials science
Polymer chemistry and structure–property relationships
Thermoplastics and biodegradable/compostable polymers
Biopolymers and bio-based materials
Polymer compounding and extrusion
Mechanical and thermal properties of polymers
Rheology and polymer processing behaviour
Material characterization and interpretation of experimental data
Experimental design, troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
Research & Development Skills
The candidate should be comfortable with:
Designing experiments and formulation matrices
Analysing experimental results and identifying trends
Developing hypotheses and validating them experimentally
Troubleshooting unexpected material and processing behaviour
Comparing materials and identifying suitable commercial alternatives
Translating laboratory observations into processing and product-development decisions
Working independently as well as collaborating with multidisciplinary teams
The candidate should therefore have good technical communication, documentation and collaboration skills and be comfortable working in an industrial R&D environment.
Educational Qualification
M.Tech / M.E. in Polymer Science, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Materials Engineering or a related field from a reputed academic institution.
Candidates with relevant M.Sc. / Ph.D. qualifications and strong hands-on polymer processing experience may also be considered.
Experience
1–3 years of relevant industrial or academic R&D experience in polymers, materials science, plastics, biopolymers or related areas.
Candidates with strong hands-on experience in polymer processing, formulation development and material characterization are preferred.
What We Look For
We are looking for someone who is:
Hands-on and comfortable working in a laboratory as well as industrial processing environments.
Curious and research-oriented, with strong fundamentals in materials science.
Able to independently plan and execute experiments.
Comfortable troubleshooting materials and processing problems.
Willing to travel for trials and work directly with external partners.
Capable of converting experimental observations into practical engineering solutions.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment where R&D, scale-up and commercialization happen simultaneously.
Location
Office and R&D laboratory: Nelamangala, Karnataka
Compensation
Compensation will be commensurate with experience and market standards. Early employees may also have the opportunity to participate in the company's employee stock option pool, subject to company policy.

Work arrangement
No