R&D Chemist

The position of Research and Development Chemist encompasses a wide range of technical roles and responsibilities including Product and Process Development, Analysis and Physical Property Characterization, Technical Literature Analysis and Documentation and finally, Technical Service and Networking. In order to successfully engage with these roles and responsibilities the job incumbent must have at least a Bachelor’s or higher degree in Chemistry, 3 or more years relevant experience and a range of competencies including language, math and reasoning ability and complementary personal and social skills.

DUTIES:

Safety

• Comply with all company occupational health, safety and environmental legal requirements
• Report all unsafe conditions, work related injury or illness to a member of leadership
• Use personal protective equipment as assigned
• Safely handle hazardous chemicals and waste according to company and legal requirements as assigned
• Make recommendations for changes / improvements to ISO 9001 and 45000 integrated management systems
  
  

Product Development – Conducts new product development from bench scale to first run plant capability which could include synthetic products, formulated products and customer-specific starting point formulae using methodology that meet the following criteria:

• Customer specifications
• Compliance with both internal and external standards of environmental product and health impacts and technology sustainability
• Compliance with the scientific method of inquiry
• Rigorous application of statistical and experimental design protocols
  
  

Process Development – Aids Research and Development Engineers in the development of new chemical processes. These processes are developed while meeting the following criteria:

• Cost-effectiveness
• Scalability
• Safe handling of chemicals and equipment
• Maximum product yield
• Minimal waste production
  
  

Analysis and Testing

Chemical analysis – conducts routine qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses for:

• Molecular structure/composition determination
• Competitive product analysis
• Internal product quality assessment
  
  

Physical property characterization – Conducts routine physical property characterizations (e.g., tensile strength, elongation, surface tension, particle size, contact angle etc.) on materials in order to:

• Assess correlation of molecular structure/composition to physical properties
• Analyze competitive products
• Assess internal product quality
• Control internal chemical processes
  
  

Modified and new analytical and physical property characterization methodology development – When standard methods of chemical analysis and/or physical property characterization are lacking, the job incumbent develops and employs modified or new methods of analysis and characterization

Technical Literature Analysis and Documentation

• Routinely conducts relevant technical literature and patent surveys
• Assists with the creation of formulas, procedures and catalogue numbers for commercial products following ISO 9001 procedures
• Documents technical work in a rigorous manner
  
  

Technical Service and Networking

• Provides technical assistance to the Sales team by investigating and assisting with or solving customer complaints, addressing customer technical inquiries and educating Sales team on new products
• Works in conjunction with the Marketing Department to develop sales and safety literature including Technical Data Sheets, Material Safety Data Sheets and Product Overviews as needed
• Works with external toll manufacturers and raw material suppliers as needed
• Presents technical reports and summaries in a wide range of internal and external forums
• If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Steve Sapita at [email protected].
  
  

JO: 256.24SS

Technical Skills:

• BS in Chemistry or equivalent
• 3 or more years laboratory experience in the product development area, or other closely related areas
• Silicone chemistry a plus but not must have
• If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Steve Sapita at [email protected].
  
  

JO: 256.24SS