DUTIES:

Job Summary: The Application Engineering Director oversees the Application Engineering team to develop customer solutions that leverage TruTag’s proprietary microtags for security and business information purposes including pharmaceutical and other industries.  The Application Engineering Director is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in TruTag’s microtags, proprietary reader and mobile phone systems, and algorithm design, and the TruTag SME on all customer application factors, including manufacturing and application processes.  This individual regularly performs research and development related to the successful incorporation and interrogation of TruTag’s spectral microtags into a wide variety of materials, products, and environments.  The Application Engineer Director also serves as the Technical Program Manager for key product identity customers and regularly travels to customer facilities to introduce the TruTag solution and properly assess integration into the customers’ existing manufacturing processes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage application development team(s) to implement product identity solutions across a variety of TruTag customers’ applications.
• Act as the technical expert to interface with customers to develop an application strategy to meet customers’ needs.
• Translate customer requirements to development and deployment goals and execute in conjunction with internal and external teams.
• Perform R&D activities and other tasks as necessary in a laboratory environment which include the use of Fabry-Perot interferometers, spectrometers, mobile phone systems, and other optical detection equipment, spectral analysis, and analytical techniques for the characterization of rugate optical reflectors.
• Prepare test materials, including a variety of coatings and coated or printed products.
• In concert with TruTag’s reader engineering team, assist in the development of Fabry-Perot interferometer-based systems and other proprietary instruments and digital applications (e.g. mobile phone applications) to collect and analyze spectral and other data from multiple test environments.
• In concert with TruTag’s software development team, define system specifications and validation test cases.
• Oversee and/or execute validation of the performance of both proprietary instruments and software systems, reporting bugs/issues to the software development team for correction.
• Act as a Technical Program Manager interfacing with customers to define key milestones and timelines.
• Test the performance of the Company’s microtags with common industry adhesives, coatings, lacquers and other materials applied in industrial manufacturing process conditions including pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Provide data analysis and communicate results to management.
• Travel and aid in customer manufacturing trials.
• Provide cost/price estimates in support of business development.
• TruTag is committed to a safe work environment.  All candidates will be assessed for their experience with a research laboratory, manufacturing operations, and safety precautions.  Successful candidates will be required to complete TruTag’s rigorous safety training program and demonstrate an understanding of the material presented prior to engaging in R&D laboratory or production activities.
• Number/Type of Employees Supervised: 2 – 4.
• Travel Reqt: 2-3x visits per year to customer production facilities in internationally (e.g. Poland (Warsaw), the UK (England/Scotland) Italy (Milan), and others as appropriate) (2 – 3 weeks per trip).
• 1x visit per month to TruTag Emeryville facility (~1 week per trip).
• M.Sc. degree in one of the following areas: biochemistry, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, advanced materials, polymer engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or physical sciences and 6 years of experience as Product or Applications Engineer(Note – A Ph.D. with or without an MSc is acceptable and will be considered to be equivalent to an MSc plus 3 years of experience.  A Ph.D. plus 3 years of experience is equivalent to MSc plus 6 years of experience).
• Experience (which can be obtained concurrently in the same position in 3 years or through experience gained in a combination of separate positions) must include:
  • 3 years of experience in technology research and development.
  • 2 years of experience with optical detection equipment, spectral analysis and analytical techniques for the characterization of rugate optical reflectors.
  • 2 years of experience with industrial polymer processing, industrial printing technologies, and other techniques for the applications of coatings and thin film materials.
  • 2 years of experience using analytical equipment and knowledge of diverse concepts of physical science to determine best methods for integration of microparticles into polymers, coatings, inks, and other thin film materials.
  • 2 years of experience with the detection of rugate optical reflectors using spectrometers and Fabry-Perot interferometers for product identity applications.
  • Experience with the detection of rugate optical reflectors using mobile phone applications for product identity applications.
  • Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
  • Experience with data analysis, using statistical tools and communicating results to management.
  • Experience with failure modes and effects analysis and leading experimental designs to meet yield improvements.
  • Experience with software such as Microsoft Office, Python, C/C++, JMP, and ImageJ.
  • Experience working safely in a laboratory environment.• Experience performing equipment and software validation.
  • Experience performing both technical and commercial feasibility assessments.
  • Experience performing equipment and software validation.