Chemist- Rubber Compounding & Tire Manufacturing

Role details

Specialty Tires of America (TN) LLC is seeking an experienced and hands-on Chemist to join our Research & Development team at our Unicoi, TN manufacturing facility.

This position is responsible for the development, formulation, testing, and optimization of rubber compounds used in tire manufacturing. The Chemist will work closely with Research & Development, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams to develop new products, improve existing compounds, troubleshoot production issues, and ensure consistent product performance.

The ideal candidate will have rubber compounding and/or tire manufacturing experience and be comfortable working in both a laboratory and manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on position where the successful candidate will have the opportunity to directly impact product performance, quality, cost, and manufacturing efficiency.

RUBBER OR TIRE MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE IS STRONGLY PREFERRED.

Salary will be based on education, technical knowledge, skills, and relevant industry experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, formulate, and optimize rubber compounds for tire and rubber product applications.
• Evaluate polymers, carbon black, silica, oils, curatives, accelerators, antioxidants, and other rubber chemicals.
• Conduct laboratory testing of raw materials, uncured compounds, cured rubber, and finished products.
• Perform and interpret rubber testing, including Mooney viscosity, rheometer/cure characteristics, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, abrasion, and other physical properties.
• Analyze laboratory and production data to identify trends, determine root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Work directly with manufacturing and production personnel to troubleshoot compound, mixing, processing, curing, and product-quality issues.
• Support new product development from laboratory formulation through plant trials, scale-up, and production implementation.
• Plan and conduct plant trials and evaluate the impact of formulation and processing changes.
• Investigate raw material, compound, and finished-product quality issues and develop practical solutions.
• Evaluate new raw materials, additives, suppliers, and processing techniques.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives involving product performance, quality, consistency, manufacturability, and cost reduction.
• Maintain accurate formulation records, laboratory results, trial documentation, and technical reports.
• Collaborate with R&D, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to resolve technical problems.
• Assist with customer, quality, regulatory, and audit requirements as needed.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized laboratory and work environment.
• Follow all company safety, quality, environmental, and laboratory procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field preferred.
• Significant rubber or tire industry experience may be considered in combination with relevant education and technical experience.
• Rubber compounding experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a tire or rubber manufacturing environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of rubber polymers, carbon black, silica, oils, curatives, accelerators, antioxidants, and other rubber chemicals.
• Understanding of rubber vulcanization and cure systems.
• Understanding of the relationship between compound formulation, processing, curing, and finished-product performance.
• Hands-on experience with rubber laboratory testing, preferably including:
• Mooney viscosity
• MDR/ODR rheometer testing
• Tensile and elongation
• Hardness
• Specific gravity
• Abrasion
• Other physical and dynamic rubber testing
• Experience taking a compound from laboratory development through plant trial and production scale-up is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret laboratory and production data and translate findings into practical manufacturing solutions.
• Ability and willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor working with production personnel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn laboratory, testing, and formulation software.

PREFERRED INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Candidates with experience in any of the following areas are encouraged to apply:

• Tire manufacturing
• Rubber compounding
• Rubber product manufacturing
• Tire compound development
• Banbury/internal mixing
• Rubber milling
• Extrusion
• Tire curing
• Raw material qualification
• Compound scale-up and plant trials
• Rubber processing troubleshooting
• Tire performance testing
• Supplier/raw material evaluation
• Statistical analysis, DOE, or structured problem solving
• ISO 9001 or other quality-management systems

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate understands that successful rubber chemistry goes beyond the laboratory. A good compound must mix properly, process consistently, cure correctly, perform in the finished tire, and be practical and cost-effective to manufacture.

We are looking for a hands-on technical problem solver who enjoys working with both laboratory data and manufacturing personnel and can turn chemistry and materials science into practical solutions on the plant floor.

JOB TYPE

Full-time

Work Location: In person – Unicoi, TN

Relocation assistance may be available for an exceptionally qualified candidate.

BENEFITS

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance program

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education

• Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location: In person