Research Scientist - Plastic Welding & Industrial Automation

Research Scientist - Plastic Welding & Industrial Automation

About SPM Automation 

SPM Automation develops advanced plastics-joining and custom automation solutions for leading global manufacturers. Proudly based in Windsor, Ontario, our expertise spans laser, infrared, hot plate, vibration, and ultrasonic welding - bringing together applied science, machine design, and intelligent controls to solve demanding production challenges for customers around the world.

We build more than machines - we build long-term customer partnerships. By working closely with customers to understand their products, processes, and goals, we turn complex manufacturing problems into practical innovations that improve quality, productivity, and reliability.

At SPM, you can make a direct contribution and see the results. Our researchers, designers, controls specialists, and machine builders work side by side, connecting ideas, experiments, and engineering decisions to equipment on the shop floor and performance in customers’ facilities.

As we grow, we are investing in our people and strengthening how we work by sharing knowledge, developing technical capability, and continuously improving our processes. We are looking for people who take pride in their craft, bring curiosity to difficult problems, and want to help customers and teammates succeed.

The Opportunity 

Turn scientific insight into technology that works on the production floor. 

We are looking for a hands-on Research Scientist who wants to do more than study a process - you want to improve it, prove it, and help put it to work. You will advance plastics-welding technologies and integrate them into intelligent, reliable industrial automation solutions.

At SPM, you will tackle challenging plastics-joining applications, including laser welding, and work directly with engineering and manufacturing colleagues to translate research into industrial solutions. Your work will connect polymer behaviour, energy delivery, joint design, sensing, and process control to the outcomes customers need: consistent welds, reliable equipment, and better manufacturing performance.

You will stay close to the full development journey - from defining the problem and designing experiments to validating results and supporting implementation. You will help shape SPM’s laser-welding product roadmap, translate customer requirements into development priorities, and advance promising technologies toward repeatable, commercially viable equipment solutions. You will also develop practical AI-enabled tools and share knowledge that strengthens the wider team.

This full-time, on-site position is based in Windsor, Ontario, and reports to the Chief of Engineering.

See Our Work 

Laser-Focused on Innovation - Design Engineering

https://www.design-engineering.com/features/laser-focused-on-innovation/ 

Festo & SPM Automation: Designing Smarter Production Together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2p4RkEMB3Q 

Key Responsibilities

Applied Research and Process Development 

• Plan and conduct experiments to understand and improve plastics-welding processes, including the effects of material properties, part geometry, joint design, energy input, force, displacement, and process variation.

• Investigate and develop laser-welding applications, including material compatibility, energy delivery, joint design, process monitoring, and weld-quality validation.

• Develop test methods, assess measurement reliability, analyze experimental data, and establish robust process windows and acceptance criteria.

• Investigate weld-quality and process-performance issues, identify root causes, and recommend practical improvements.

• Conduct feasibility studies to support customer applications and equipment proposals, documenting assumptions, technical risks, test results, and recommendations.

• Evaluate emerging joining technologies and assess their relevance to customer needs and SPM’s product-development priorities.

Process Monitoring and Technology Development 

• Develop and validate sensing, data-acquisition, and process-monitoring methods to identify variation and improve weld consistency.

• Apply statistical analysis and scientific computing to understand process behaviour and support engineering decisions.

• Use and develop AI-enabled tools to improve research workflows, data analysis, knowledge retrieval, and customer-facing process monitoring, selecting applications based on measurable value.

• Define process requirements and control strategies, and collaborate with mechanical and controls teams to translate validated research into equipment designs, process-control methods, and machine-monitoring solutions.

• Lead assigned research and development initiatives from problem definition and feasibility testing through validation and transfer to engineering.

• Work with engineering and commercial leadership to define the product vision and development roadmap for standard laser-welding solutions, gathering and prioritizing customer, process, and equipment requirements.

• Work with Sales and other commercial colleagues to evaluate the technical and commercial potential of proposed developments.

Collaboration, Documentation and Knowledge Transfer 

• Provide technical guidance to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, controls, and manufacturing teams.

• Establish realistic technical milestones, resource requirements, and deliverables for assigned development work.

• Present research findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Maintain clear experimental records, technical reports, process specifications, and reusable methods.

• Share knowledge through technical reviews, training, and collaborative problem solving.

• Document technical uncertainties, experimental activities, and results, and support finance and external advisors with technical information for R&D funding submissions and reviews.

• Use approved AI tools responsibly, protect company and customer information, and validate outputs before relying on them for technical decisions.

Qualifications and Experience 

Required 

• MASc or PhD in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, materials engineering, chemical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related discipline, with research or applied experience relevant to polymers, joining, thermal processes, sensing, or industrial process control.

• Strong grounding in polymer processing, materials behaviour, joining, heat transfer, or related manufacturing processes.

• Demonstrated ability to design experiments, analyze results, and translate findings into practical engineering recommendations.

• Hands-on experience with experimental equipment, instrumentation, testing, or process troubleshooting.

• Proficiency in a scientific computing or data-analysis environment such as Python or MATLAB.

• Demonstrated curiosity and initiative in applying AI and digital tools to technical work, with the ability to evaluate their outputs critically.

• Ability to identify and apply relevant technical standards, testing methods, and safe experimental practices.

• Strong communication and organizational skills, including the ability to document methods and share technical knowledge.

• Ability to manage technical uncertainty, prioritize work, and deliver agreed milestones.

• Willingness and ability to travel within Canada, the United States, and Mexico, representing less than 10% of working time.

Preferred 

• Direct experience with laser welding of thermoplastics.

• Experience with other plastics-welding methods, including infrared, hot plate, vibration, or ultrasonic welding.

• Familiarity with industrial sensing, data acquisition, PLC-based equipment, and process control.

• Experience with industrial process monitoring and statistical modelling.

• Experience developing AI-enabled applications, machine-learning models, or automated technical workflows.

• Experience transferring research into industrial equipment or production processes.

• Experience supporting technical R&D documentation or funding submissions.

What Success Looks Like 

During your first year, you will be expected to:

• Establish an agreed research and development plan aligned with customer needs and SPM’s technology priorities.

• Contribute a customer-informed roadmap for standard laser-welding solutions, with clear technical priorities and development milestones.

• Complete assigned feasibility studies with clear evidence and actionable recommendations.

• Develop and validate process or monitoring improvements suitable for equipment integration.

• Support the transfer of successful developments into practical engineering solutions.

• Pilot and evaluate an agreed AI-enabled or digital improvement, demonstrating its effect on research efficiency, process understanding, or customer outcomes.

• Create documentation and share knowledge so validated methods can be applied by the broader team.

Why Join SPM? 

• Meaningful technical challenges: Work on plastics-joining and automation problems with a direct connection to customer manufacturing performance.

• Hands-on involvement: Stay close to experiments, equipment, engineering decisions, and implementation.

• Canadian roots, global reach: Build your career in Windsor while contributing to projects for international manufacturers.

• Collaborative technical teams: Work alongside experienced researchers, designers, controls specialists, and machine builders.

• Professional growth: Deepen your expertise, learn across disciplines, and contribute to the development of others.

• Opportunity to improve: Help shape the technologies, products, and processes that support SPM’s next stage of growth.

Position Details 

Employment: Full-time, on-site 

Reporting to: Chief of Engineering

Location: SPM Automation (Canada) Inc., 5445 Outer Drive, Windsor, Ontario