Senior PD Chemist

Role details

Job Summary

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The Senior Product Development Chemist is an autonomous technical contributor responsible for product-level formulation decisions within Ultimate Linings’ Research & Development function. This role leads formulation strategy and chemistry decisions for assigned product families, balancing product performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, and technical risk. The Sr Chemist serves as a subject matter expert for specific chemistry and provides advanced technical support for product development, field performance, manufacturing investigations, raw material evaluations, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This role acts as a technical authority across R&D and Operations while maintaining rigorous documentation, compliance, and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

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Product Formulation Authority

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• + Lead formulation strategy and chemistry decisions for assigned product families or development platforms.
• Make technical product decisions that balance performance, manufacturability, quality expectations, cost, and risk.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for specific chemistries, coating systems, raw material classes, or product technologies.
• Define formulation direction, evaluate technical options, and recommend product-level changes based on data, testing, and business needs.
• Ensure formulation decisions are aligned with performance requirements, application expectations, regulatory considerations, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Advanced Technical Problem Solving

• Support complex investigations related to product performance, field issues, manufacturing concerns, or application variability.
• Evaluate new raw materials, chemistry approaches, formulation pathways, and performance improvement opportunities.
• Analyze technical data, identify root causes or risk factors, and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
• Influence long-term technical direction within R&D by identifying opportunities for product improvement, innovation, and process stability.
• Translate complex formulation or performance findings into practical guidance for laboratory, production, quality, and technical teams.
• Technical Leadership & Knowledge Sharing

• Provide technical guidance to Chemists, Technologists, and cross-functional team members on formulation, testing, and performance-related matters.
• Support continuous improvement of laboratory methods, testing protocols, documentation practices, and technical decision-making processes.
• Maintain rigorous documentation and compliance standards for formulation work, technical evaluations, investigations, and product decisions.
• Share technical knowledge through project reviews, internal discussions, training support, and mentoring within the R&D environment.
• Promote technical accountability, sound scientific judgment, and consistent application of R&D standards across assigned work.

Qualifications

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Education

Minimum Required

• BS degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related technical field.

Experience

Minimum Required

• At least 5 years of related work experience in coatings, polymers, or product development environments.

Preferred

• 7+ years related work experience in coatings, polymers, or product development environments.

Job Specific Skills

Minimum Required

• Thorough understanding of chemical tests and processes.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software to draft laboratory reports.
• Proficient with or the ability to quickly learn software and applications used for chemical tests and analysis.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred

• Excellent management and leadership skills
• Strong technical documentation, reporting, and compliance discipline in support of ISO and internal quality standards.

Working Conditions

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The following working conditions are present or expected on a regular basis:

• Normal laboratory R&D and applications development environment
• Normal office environment
• Travel may be required.
• Manual dexterity is required to use desktop computers and peripherals.
• Ability to wear a respirator required occasionally.
• Ability to handle full 5-gallon pails & drums of raw materials.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.