You need several qualifications to become a polymer engineer. First, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Although some colleges or universities offer degree programs specific to polymer science or engineering, these programs are rare. A more common major for aspiring polymer engineers is materials engineering. Your college courses teach you how to assemble and manage a laboratory and evaluate products. If you want to be more competitive in the job market, you may consider earning a master’s in engineering. Through these courses, you learn the necessary skills for the job, like polymer analysis, processing, and production.

There are several differences between a polymer engineer and a polymer technologist. A polymer engineer studies and selects plastics to create new products or parts. On the other hand, a polymer technologist works in the production end and troubleshoots any issues that happen during manufacturing. A polymer engineer is more likely to work in a laboratory, creating and testing brand new materials. A polymer technologist works with these materials once they have been created and oversees their development into products.

A polymer engineer primarily works in plastics development. In this career, you develop and test plastics or related materials. Your responsibilities include the fabrication of new polymers, working with the prototype, and designing new equipment to process these materials. You also provide support for all plastic injection molding techniques and monitor customer issues, working to resolve them quickly. You analyze and evaluate the success of each new plastic or polymer. You also research and analyze ongoing developments in the plastics field and select polymers for new applications and testing. Other duties include maintaining product improvement policies and promoting efficient lab operations.