Finishing Engineer

**Description**:
Hi there, we’re Article. We’re a North American online furniture company creating remarkably better furniture experiences one sofa at a time. As a
**Finishing Engineer**,

**Why We Need You**:
The Raw Materials Development team transforms design concepts into reality, researches new raw material solutions, and develops têxtiles, leather and hard materials, colour and finishes that our customers love, while meeting Article’s quality and compliance standards, in line with Article’s sustainability and environmental responsibility goals.

The Finishing Engineer collaborates closely with internal cross functional teams; Product Design, Technical Product Development, Vendor Quality Team, Product Compliance and both Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors directly.

The Finishing Engineer will lead new coating developments for Article of both existing catalog product and New Product Introductions (NPI), working directly with Tier 2 paint suppliers to create and standardize formula’s, finish techniques and master swatches that meet Articles fit-for-use criteria, compliance, and conformance testing standards for the NA market as well as meeting the Finished Goods Vendor production needs.

**Why Article?**

While we sell to the North American market, we work closely with a number of our manufacturing partners throughout Asia. As a result we have an office in Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where we currently have around 50 Particles (people of Article) working.

As a Particle (people of Article), you will have a high level of autonomy to solve challenging, meaningful problems the best way you can. That means you’re trusted to explore solutions you believe will work best (you’re the expert, after all). You’ll do all this while growing your skills within a company that is redefining the furniture industry.

**What You’ll Do**:

- Develop and standardize all wood, metal, stone, plastic and composite paint and stain formula’s, topcoat finishes and sheen levels in partnership with industrial paint suppliers and our finished goods manufacturing partners to meet the determined technical and quality standards that are appropriate to deliver the highest level of customer satisfaction, while ensuring alignment to Article’s product and sourcing strategy.
- Product Change Program: Develop and revise specifications as required to maintain a standard approved finish across products and collections in Article’s existing Product Catalog.
- Production Verification: You will provide support (as required) for the quality team in the manufacturing process to ensure that the vendor is able to maintain consistent and standardized finishes.
- Build and maintain the Finishing Standard for Article along with supporting SOPs.
- Maintain finish specification information, ensuring that all Master swatches are periodically refreshed and all specification. information and changes are tracked and managed appropriately.
- Ensure timely completion of material DNA profiles and full material technical specifications.
- Set shade bands and tolerances to support the bulk approval process.
- Manage swatch submissions for approval.
- Partner with Sourcing, Industrial Paint Suppliers and Finished Goods Vendors to explore new technologies and innovations that reduce cost, improve quality, consistency, manufacturing efficiencies or to execute a new design technique.
- Provide input into Article’s Raw Materials Strategy.

**Progress Tracking**
- Course correct projects that fall behind schedule. Create and communicate a time and action plan for these situations that outlines the details of the specific project, partnering with the cross functional teams as required.
- Collaborate with the product development, sourcing, and costing teams to ensure the product is meeting cost objectives along the development timeline, while problem solving and decision making as required.
- Ensure that raw material developments are completed in line with the GTM calendar and launch dates.

**Communication**
- Communicate and implement process improvement at both the industrial paint vendor, the finished goods vendor and the internal product creation team level, sharing best practices and expertise
- Ability to build strong relationships with the Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors, understanding and leveraging their capabilities
- Liaise will Tier 1 vendor partners during pre production and production verification phases to provide technical advice and problem solve where appropriate
- Ability to interpret the designer and product developer needs and communicate effectively and efficiently with all Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendor partners

**Who You Are**:

- University/College Degree in Material Science, Engineering, Furniture Manufacturing or proven industry experience
- Experience working directly with casegoods furniture manufacturers and industrial paint suppliers.
- Strong knowledge of industry testing standards/test reports.
- Strong knowledge of cross