Material Development Engineer

About ABB

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Our Values

At ABB, we are dedicated to addressing global challenges. Our core values - care, courage, curiosity, and collaboration - combined with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities - are key drivers in our aim to empower everyone to create sustainable solutions.

About the Role

Reports to: Production Engineering Manager

Work Model: Onsite

Division: Distribution Solutions in China

This role is responsible for the development, verification, and approval of materials for new product projects, ensuring process reliability, quality consistency, and cost-effectiveness of mass production materials.

Key Responsibilities

Material Development

• Collaborate closely with R&D, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Quality Control, and other departments to ensure the smooth development and timely delivery of materials required for new product projects
• Conduct Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis of materials, work with suppliers to determine manufacturing processes and workflows
• Identify and drive cost-reduction opportunities
• Lead the resolution of various technical issues arising during material development, including those related to quality, design, delivery timelines, and manufacturing
• Organize cross-functional root cause analysis and implement effective countermeasures
• Participate in the technical evaluation, selection, and validation of new materials to ensure they meet product performance and reliability requirements

Material Approval

• Organize and execute the material approval process to ensure materials comply with design specifications, quality standards, and industry regulations
• Plan and track the material development and approval process
• Coordinate internal and external resources to ensure key milestones meet the project timeline
• Review and approve suppliers' Quality Control Plans, ensuring they cover critical material characteristics, process control points, and can effectively address issues identified during the development phase
• Collate, archive, and hand over approval-related documentation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or above, major in materials, mechanical or electrical related
• Experience in material development or supplier quality management
• Material development experience in the electrical industry or related manufacturing sectors (such as automotive or industrial automation) is preferred
• Ability to communicate in English, both written and oral

Required Skills and Competencies

Technical Knowledge

• Materials Processing Technology: Familiarity with common metal materials (such as steel plates, copper busbars, aluminum profiles) and non-metal materials (such as engineering plastics, insulation components), their characteristics, processing technologies (stamping, welding, injection molding, surface treatment), and application scenarios
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Proficiency in DFM methodology, ability to independently conduct manufacturability, assemblability, and cost optimization analysis of material designs, and provide improvement recommendations
• Technical Drawing: Skilled in reading mechanical structure diagrams and electrical schematic diagrams
• CAD Software: Familiarity with CAD software (such as Solid Works, AutoCAD)
• PLM/ERP Systems: Familiarity with PLM/ERP system operations (such as Windchill, SAP)

Quality Control

• Quality Control Tools: Proficient in core quality tools including but not limited to PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), FAI (First Article Inspection), Control Plan, FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), and 8D Report
• Master the ability to conduct technical handover, process reviews, root cause analysis, and problem resolution with suppliers

Business Skills

• Cost Analysis: Basic capability in material cost structure analysis, collaboration with SCM and suppliers to drive cost reduction initiatives
• Project Management: Basic project management knowledge, ability to develop and manage material development and approval plans, identify risks, and ensure on-time delivery
• Problem Solving: Structured problem analysis and decision-making ability
• Communication and Coordination: Effective technical communication and coordination with internal departments and suppliers to drive problem resolution

Soft Skills

• Results-Oriented: Goal and performance-indicator driven, ensuring tasks are completed according to plan
• Teamwork: Possess team collaboration spirit, actively support and cooperate with cross-functional team work
• Learning and Adaptability: Ability to quickly learn new technologies, processes, and material knowledge, adapt to changing market and project requirements

What's in It for You

We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You'll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that's tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger.

Benefits

ABB provides competitive benefits. Ask us for more details!

About Distribution Solutions Division

ABB's Distribution Solutions Division facilitates the efficient and reliable distribution, protection and control of power by improving electric power quality while strengthening the resilience of the grid. The Division offers segment-specific products and solutions that largely serve utilities, industry and infrastructure segments, often providing the requisite medium-voltage link between high-voltage transmission systems and low-voltage users.

With ABB Ability™ enabled connected solutions at its core, the offering includes:

• Medium-voltage air- and gas-insulated switchgear (1 to 66 kilovolts)
• Indoor and outdoor circuit breakers
• Reclosers
• Fuses
• Contactors
• Relays
• Instrument transformers
• Sensors
• Motor control centers
• Low-voltage switchgear for the ANSI standard markets

Why ABB

Working at ABB gives you the opportunity to contribute to a healthier and more prosperous world. Join a passionate team focused on pushing the boundaries of technology to drive performance, shape new business models, and find new ways of working that benefit our customers, partners, and society.

We Care

At ABB, we care about our people and their stories. We create safe, fair, equitable, and inclusive working environments in which our people can succeed and develop, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or cultural, religious, or social background. Diverse teams make us stronger. ABB is also committed to a high standard of integrity in everything we do.

We Grow

We help our people succeed and develop, and we empower them to create their own careers at ABB. Our benefits, reward, and development programs encompass a wide array of offerings.

How to Apply

Do you want to shape the future, together with us? Get more insights into our recruitment process and find some helpful tips and tricks on how to join the team.

Make our story your story.

We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe.