Plastics Engineering — P6

MATERI.PLASTICSE3D2.P6

P6P6 — Principal Professionalhigh0.90approvedglobalv1

Designs and develops plastic and polymer components and the processes used to manufacture them. Distinct from broader Materials Engineering (metals, ceramics, composites) and from Tooling/Mold Design specialists in that this focus centers on polymer selection, plastics processing (injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding), and Moldflow-driven validation of plastic part and process design from concept to production.

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Level

P6 · P6 — Principal Professional · 12–18 yrs

Function · Focus

Materials & Plastics Engineering · Plastics Engineering

Market pay (median)

$188k ($148k–$240k)

Pay basis

function-anchored · wide bars

Focus — Plastics Engineering

Material SKILL differential vs the function baseline.

Responsibilities by level

What this person actually does at each level on the support track — escalating scope, not one generic blob. Your level is highlighted.

Designs and develops plastic components using CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo) under the guidance of experienced engineers, learning on real projects.
Conducts material selection and testing to identify suitable polymers based on mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties on assigned components.
Collaborates with senior engineers to run experiments and analyze data that contributes to product and process improvements.
Helps document processes, methodologies, and test results to maintain clear engineering records.
Participates in project meetings to provide updates on progress, challenges, and proposed solutions.

Independently designs plastic components and specifies tools, molds, and machinery used in their production, planning day-to-day work to meet program milestones.
Implements best practices in injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming, evaluating identifiable processing factors to meet part requirements.
Analyzes and troubleshoots production processes to enhance efficiency and reduce waste, applying Six Sigma and SPC techniques.
Collaborates with cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality assurance, and product development to resolve component and process issues.
Performs Moldflow analysis to validate fill, packing, and cooling for assigned designs and recommends design refinements.

Leads the development of new plastic materials and processes to meet structural and aesthetic requirements across complex components and product families.
Oversees projects from concept to production, selecting design and validation methods and coordinating designers, suppliers, and production staff.
Drives Moldflow analysis correlation feedback for virtual validation of product design, tooling, and manufacturing requirements.
Develops and refines manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and lower cost while maintaining quality, applying DOE and FMEA/PPAP discipline.
Mentors junior engineers and establishes team-level technical standards for plastics design and processing.

Sets technical direction for strategic plastics programs, making key decisions on materials, processing methods, and tooling architecture aligned with company objectives.
Manages project budgets and timelines for major programs, interfacing closely with product design, tooling, advanced development, program management, and operations.
Acts independently on broad and special assignments, resolving intangible, ambiguous failure modes through root-cause failure analysis across multiple programs.
Provides expert technical advice to senior engineers and project teams and serves as an external spokesperson with suppliers and customers on plastics capability.
Plans long-term engineering strategies and oversees R&D and innovation efforts spanning materials, processing, and quality systems (IATF16949).

P6this profile

Defines organization-wide technical direction and high-level architecture for plastics engineering, shaping standards adopted across multiple departments.
Plans long-term engineering strategies and sets department goals with implementation roadmaps aligned with business needs.
Oversees R&D and innovation efforts across departments, pioneering new polymer materials and processing methods that define the firm's competitive position.
Acts as a bridge between engineering and management, developing strategic roadmaps and providing high-level mentorship that influences peer professionals.
Provides field-defining expert advice on plastics design, Moldflow correlation, and manufacturing process strategy to senior leadership and the broader engineering community.

Level guidelines

The universal leveling rubric applied to this function — how scope, complexity, collaboration, and experience step up across levels.

Level	Knowledge & Application	Complexity & Problem Solving	Collaboration & Interaction	Typical Degree & Years
P2	Applies foundational knowledge of polymer chemistry, materials characterization, and CAD to conventional plastics design and testing tasks; learns processing methods on real projects.	Exercises judgment in familiar contexts on moderate-scope tasks such as component design and material testing, escalating non-routine issues to experienced engineers.	Builds productive project relationships; works under supervision of senior engineers and provides progress updates in project meetings.	2+ years with a BA/BS, or an MS/PhD with no prior experience.
P3	Applies working knowledge of plastics processing, mold/tool design, and Moldflow to diverse component and process problems with moderate independence.	Evaluates identifiable factors in material selection and process troubleshooting; plans own work and resolves recurring production issues using Six Sigma and SPC.	Networks with senior professionals and cross-functional teams; may coordinate activities within a project.	5+ years (BA/BS), 3 years (MS), or a PhD without experience.
P4	Applies in-depth expertise in polymer materials, processing, and Moldflow correlation to complex issues with functional impact across product families.	Performs in-depth analysis of complex processing and design variables; selects methods, runs DOE, and leads validation from concept to production.	Coordinates across design, tooling, suppliers, and operations; may lead project teams and influence technical decisions.	8+ years, often with graduate education.
P5	Applies expert, strategic knowledge of plastics engineering to broad and special assignments that contribute to company objectives.	Resolves intangible, ambiguous failure modes and processing challenges with high independence across multiple programs.	Builds influential internal and external networks; acts as a spokesperson with suppliers and customers and advises senior engineers.	12+ years with extensive plastics design and process expertise.
P6	Applies visionary, field-shaping knowledge to define organization-wide plastics standards, architecture, and long-term technical strategy.	Solves field-defining problems with full independence, pioneering new materials and processing methods aligned with business strategy.	Influences industry and company direction as a recognized thought leader; bridges engineering and management and mentors peer professionals.	15+ years as a principal expert; often a PhD combined with industry leadership.

Skills

Focus-specific skills the role applies — the relevance layer beyond the occupational base.

Polymer Chemistry: Applies knowledge of polymers—materials made from long, repeating chains of molecules that make up plastics—and their properties to component and material decisions.
Materials Characterization: Uses characterization techniques to evaluate the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of plastic materials.
Plastics Processing Methods: Applies manufacturing processes such as injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, and thermoforming to produce plastic parts.
CAD Design: Designs plastic components and products using computer-aided design software to meet performance criteria.
Material Selection: Chooses appropriate plastic materials considering cost, environmental impact, and required physical and chemical properties.
Mold and Tool Design: Designs and specifies the tools, molds, and machinery used in plastics production.
Failure Analysis: Analyzes product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
Six Sigma: Applies statistical methodology including DOE and black belt methods for process troubleshooting and improvement.
Project Management: Manages project budgets, timelines, and coordinates projects from concept to production.
Quality and Compliance: Applies quality systems and standards such as FMEA, PPAP, SPC, and IATF16949 to plastics design and manufacturing.
Autodesk Moldflow: Uses this tool/technology effectively during the delivery of day-to-day tasks.
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks: Uses this tool/technology effectively during the delivery of day-to-day tasks.
PTC Creo Parametric: Uses this tool/technology effectively during the delivery of day-to-day tasks.
Dassault Systèmes CATIA: Uses this tool/technology effectively during the delivery of day-to-day tasks.

Provenance

The evidence base behind this profile — every layer is sourced; quality is scored by an adversarial review panel (1–5; passes at ≥4 on the minimum dimension).

Level differentiation4.5Focus specificity5.0Concreteness4.5Factual accuracy4.5Real-world coverage4.5

15 sources

Level — P6 — Principal Professional

Top individual contributor; recognized authority with strategic impact, equivalent to a low executive level

Scope: Organization-wide architecture and the hardest problems
Autonomy: Defines direction; minimal oversight
Complexity: Strategic, open-ended problems shaping the technical future
Impact: Organization-wide
Decision rights: Sets technical strategy for a major area
Leadership: Recognized authority; multiplies many teams
Typical experience: 12–18 yrs

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