Engineering Jobs in Macon, GA

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you'll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better.

We are seeking a Product Development Scientist for our First Quality Baby Products facility located in Macon, GA.

The position is responsible for creating, developing, and implementing new and proprietary designs of absorbent-related product systems based upon business, customer, and consumer needs as well as provide support for the needs of present product systems to assure competitive performance and value.

Responsibilities include:

• Participate as a member of the Product Development team; execute projects in timely, diligent, safe, and professional manner, and contribute to the growth of the team and department.
• Design new products and product improvements to meet business and consumer needs.
• Develop new and improved materials and technologies with suppliers, and ensure all new raw materials obtain proper safety testing and clearance.
• Use basic Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques to develop experimental plans.
• Support the existing business product cost improvements through product redesigns.
• Provide technical support to reduce consumer complaints.
• Support corporate proprietary technology by documenting and patenting novel ideas.
• Develop new test methods to better predict and understand product performance in use.
• Work with more senior scientist or manager to help set project objectives.
• Coach and develop indirect reports to enhance team performance towards department objectives.

Education and experience requirements include:

• Able to travel ~20-30% to US and International for product and process trials.
• Four-year technical degree (e.g. Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering) or equivalent; additional business studies preferred.
• 3+ years in R&D inventing, developing and implementing new products.
• Knowledge of and experience with developing product systems for the retail market, preferably hygiene products
• Knowledge of materials used in retail absorbent products (e.g. pulp, super absorbent polymers, nonwovens).
• Working knowledge of consumer product converting technologies for pulp, paper and nonwoven materials.
• Experience with the process of searching, evaluating and filing patents.
• Experience providing direction for the physical testing of hypotheses, resulting in specific conclusions and recommendations.
• Able to speak, read and write the English language and have strong oral and written communication skills.
• Good analytical skills, with working knowledge of basic statistics.
• Good computer skills in Microsoft Office program.

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
• Paid time off (three-week minimum)
• Medical, dental and vision starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
• Bundle of joy benefit (years' worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
• ...and more!

First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.

First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.

For immediate consideration, please go to the Careers section at to complete our online application.

Job Title : Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) Category / Component : Officer • Active Overview Design, regulate, and oversee the Navy's nuclear propulsion program, including reactor design, fleet operations, and eventual defueling and decommissioning of nuclear powered ships and submarines from Naval Reactors Headquarters and associated Department of Energy laboratories and shipyards.

Key Responsibilities Provide technical direction in areas such as reactor and fluid systems design, reactor physics, materials development, component design for steam generators, pumps, and valves, instrumentation and control for reactor and propulsion plants, testing and quality control, radiation shielding, and chemistry and radiological controls; review designs and analyses from laboratories, shipyards, and industry partners; coordinate with fleet units to ensure safe and reliable nuclear plant operation.

What to Expect Assume significant technical responsibility early in your career as part of a lean headquarters staff; work primarily in an analytical and oversight role rather than operating plants at sea; balance long term engineering projects with time sensitive fleet and shipyard issues; frequent coordination with senior civilian engineers, naval officers, and technical teams; high expectations for attention to detail, judgment, and written and oral communication.

Work Environment Work mainly at Naval Reactors Headquarters in the Washington, District of Columbia area with regular engagement with Department of Energy laboratories, nuclear training sites, shipyards, and nuclear powered ships and submarines; office based work that includes document reviews, technical meetings, inspections, and site visits rather than day to day shipboard watchstanding.

Pathways, Training & Advancement Officer commissioning through programs such as Officer Candidate School or the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program followed by a structured technical qualification program at Naval Reactors; rotational exposure to laboratories, prototypes, shipyards, and fleet support issues; progressive responsibility leading projects and becoming a subject matter expert, with opportunities for professional military education and advanced graduate study in technical fields.

Entry through the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program for qualified college students and recent graduates, or selection via Officer Candidate School for those who already hold qualifying degrees; all applicants must meet Nuclear Propulsion Program academic and technical screening standards in addition to general officer commissioning requirements.

Qualifications All Navy jobs require meeting general enlistment or commissioning standards, which typically include: Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy, which may involve United States citizenship or other legal residency and work status, depending on the program and current law and policy A high school diploma or equivalent for enlisted positions, and a bachelor's or qualifying professional degree for officer positions Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in law and Navy policy.

Some communities have more restrictive age ranges Meeting medical, vision, and dental standards, including body composition and physical fitness requirements, with some jobs requiring more demanding standards Meeting character and conduct standards, including background screening Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for enlisted roles or officer qualification tests for officer programs Eligibility for a security clearance when required for your rating or designator Additional qualifications can include specific skills, education, licensure, or experience that are unique to a job or community and will be reviewed with you by a recruiter.

Additional qualifications for this job may include: Completion of a rigorous technical degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a closely related field that includes strong backgrounds in calculus and physics; outstanding academic record, particularly in technical coursework; United States citizenship and eligibility for a high level security clearance; strong technical aptitude and comfort with detailed analytical work.

Education Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for Navy training, Navy COOL-funded certifications, USMAP apprenticeships, and other Navy College Program opportunities.

Specific options depend on the Sailor's status, training, and current Navy policy.

Pay, Benefits & Service Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy Active and/or Reserve policies for this type of role, including basic pay, allowances when eligible, health coverage, and retirement options.

Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations depend on program, component, years of service, and current law and Navy guidance.

Incentives Incentives such as bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment may be available at times for specific ratings or communities, but they change frequently and cannot be guaranteed.

Applicants must confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official Navy recruiter or authoritative Navy source.

Notes and Disclaimers This description is a general overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities in this community.

It does not replace official Navy instructions, policies, or contracts and does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes.

Actual opportunities depend on Navy needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy.