Sbe Material, Surface Finishing, and Color Engineer

Snap Inc

is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. The Company’s three core products are

Snapchat

, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world;
Lens Studio

, an augmented reality platform that powers AR across Snapchat and other services; and its AR glasses,

Spectacles


Snap Lab is home to our hardware products

with a world-class research & development team. We are focused on pushing the boundaries of what a camera can be, specifically overlaying computing on the real world. Next Generation

Spectacles

are our first pair of glasses that bring augmented reality to life.

We're looking for a material, surface finishing, and color engineer to join the Snap Lab team

What you’ll do:
- Develop and oversee the implementation of surface finishing processes for plastics, metals, glass and other materials.- Ensure high-quality surface finishing that meets Snap's stringent standards for aesthetics and durability.- Establish protocols for surface preparation, including cleaning, sanding, priming, and other necessary steps to ensure optimal adhesion and finish quality.- Implement a variety of surface finishing techniques such as blasting, polishing, painting, plating, anodizing, physical vapor deposition (PVD), printing, laser, powder coating and other decoration methods.- Innovate and explore new surface finishing technologies and techniques to provide Snap products with unique and superior finishes.- Optimize molding processes to address cosmetic appearance issues.- Work with PD, ID, and SQE teams to drive material for sample reviews, in order to align on targets or specs with other cross-functional teams.- Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with suppliers specializing in surface finishing for plastics, metals, and glass.- Conduct regular audits and assessments of supplier capabilities and performance.- Develop and enforce rigorous quality control standards for all surface finishing processes.- Troubleshoot and resolve any surface finishing issues that arise during product development and into production.- Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance surface finishing quality and efficiency.- Provide technical guidance and support to internal teams on all matters from material selection, through surface finishing.- Collaborate with ID, PD and Operations to create an innovation/technology roadmap with a 5 year horizon.- Stay current with industry trends and advancements in novel materials, in new manufacturing processes and in surface finishing technologies.- Collaborate with Reliability Engineering to implement and improve form factor level testing of implemented materials and finishes.- Expected travel 25-50% to Mainland China, Taiwan, and other Asia-region countries and occasional travel to US.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Deep understanding of surface finishing processes for plastics, metals, glass and other materials.- Familiarity with various surface preparation techniques and their impact on final finishing quality.- Strong understanding of surface finishing technologies such as blasting, polishing, painting, plating, anodizing, physical vapor deposition (PVD), printing, laser, powder coating and other decoration methods.- Extensive experience and knowledge of molding process setup and optimization.- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to identify, address, and resolve surface finishing issues.- Ability to identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.- Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.- Effective communication skills to work with cross-functional teams and external suppliers.- Ability to convey technical information clearly and concisely.- Passion for innovation and continuous improvement in surface finishing techniques.- Ability to stay updated with industry trends and implement cutting-edge technologies.

Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.- 10+ years of experience in surface finishing processes for plastics, metals, and glass materials.- 10+ years of experience in developing high volume manufacturing processes in injection molding, compression molding, stamping, die casting, forming, and other material processing techniques.- Proven track record of creating and managing deep supplier relationships.- Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, preferably in the consumer electronics or technology industry.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree or higher in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.- 15+ years delivering game changing materia