Materials Engineer – Tooling Materials Specialist in Wantage

The Tooling Materials Specialist provides technical leadership on material selection, material specification, and supplier qualification for the design and manufacture of contact tooling for can‑making. As a subject‑matter expert, the specialist leads efforts to develop new contact tooling material solutions to improve process efficiency and capability, acting as a key contact for designers, toolmakers, material suppliers and factory toolcare personnel. The role also leads tooling material‑related failure analysis and support activities.

Main Responsibilities

• Key materials technical resource for Crown’s subsidiary tooling and machinery manufacturing operations and Corporate Technology design engineers, serving as materials project manager for tooling material development and support projects.
• Specification and supplier qualification of materials and coatings used in contact tooling, particularly cermets (e.g., tungsten carbides), tool steels and technical ceramics.
• Material selection support for design, including identification of global equivalents.
• Coordination of material approval processes and tooling standardisation between Corporate Technologies and Crown’s purchasing groups and business sectors.
• Tooling materials development, identifying opportunities with existing and new suppliers, developing materials solutions for new applications, and implementing these with the relevant business.
• Service support for failure investigation of tooling and machine components.
• Metallurgy preparation laboratory wardenship and training.
• Provision of topic expertise to business regional manufacturing and quality leads, plant management, and line personnel.
• Coordination with experts and technologists in other CT teams to complete routine tasks and tackle complex problems.
• Identification and escalation of significant manufacturing or customer issues to technical experts and line management.
• Training on equipment and methods to CT staff in support of projects and support work.

Main Challenges and Complexity

• Maintaining acceptable manufacturing performance in the face of continual process changes, different tooling suppliers or materials, and changing requirements.
• Developing novel test methods and equipment to assess performance of new and unproven materials.
• Providing clear and actionable technical recommendations on complex issues to Crown and external personnel with different skills and knowledge.
• Managing multiple project and support requests, often with competing demands and priorities from operations, sourcing, suppliers and customers.
• Unpredictable workload and travel requirements with little or no notice.
• Variety of technical challenges related to materials, from routine defects to new, unknown failures.
• Wide breadth of knowledge needed, including materials, manufacturing equipment, supplier and customer processes, and the customer’s end use of packaging.

Required Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Degree or Master’s in science, engineering or material science.
• Significant professional experience in materials tooling qualifications.
• Relevant experience with cermets (hard metals) and technical ceramics.
• Good written communication skills.
• Good interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Teamwork and strong ability to work under pressure and tight schedules.
• Rigorousness and attention to detail.
• Problem‑solving skills and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively within a diverse cultural environment.
• Effective time management and adaptability to the business needs.

Desirable Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Post‑graduate degree in a related field.
• Relevant experience in a materials development or manufacturing industry.
• Experience in packaging development or can‑making.
• Lean Six Sigma qualifications or practical experience using techniques.