Chemist

Role details

Job Title: Technical Service Chemist

Job Description

The Technical Service Chemist supports customer-focused laboratory activities for automotive paint and coating products. This role prepares and evaluates coated panels, performs application testing, supports color development and formulation work, and assists with customer correlations and product implementation. The chemist maintains detailed technical documentation, collaborates closely with internal teams and customers, and contributes to continuous improvement of coating performance and application processes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and evaluate paint panels using spray application equipment to support product development and customer projects.
• Perform application testing and coating evaluations to assess appearance, performance, and process robustness.
• Support coating formulation development, including adjustments for color, appearance, and performance requirements.
• Assist with color matching activities and color development to meet customer specifications and standards.
• Analyze formulation and testing results, identify trends, and collaborate with supervisors to troubleshoot coating performance and application issues.
• Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory notebooks, technical reports, and project documentation in accordance with internal standards.
• Communicate project findings, test results, and recommendations to chemists, technical leadership, managers, and customers in a clear and professional manner.
• Support customer product evaluations and technical service activities, including on-site and remote support as needed.
• Assist with customer correlations and application process improvements to ensure consistency between laboratory and production environments.
• Work with internal business systems to transition products from laboratory development through manufacturing scale-up and customer implementation.
• Follow laboratory, safety, and environmental procedures for chemical handling, waste management, and disposal in compliance with applicable guidelines.
• Collaborate with chemists, technical leaders, manufacturing personnel, and other stakeholders to resolve technical issues and support product launches.
• Travel occasionally to customer sites to support technical projects, product trials, and customer needs.
• Adapt to changing project priorities and timelines while maintaining high-quality work and documentation.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, Materials Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in a laboratory, coatings, formulation, or technical service environment.
• Hands-on experience with paint, coatings, or chemical formulation work.
• Experience operating spray application equipment for panel preparation and product evaluation.
• Ability to analyze formulation and testing results and troubleshoot coating performance issues.
• Experience maintaining laboratory notebooks and writing clear, structured technical reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for interaction with internal teams and customers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for data analysis, reporting, and presentations.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Customer support or technical service mindset with the ability to respond to technical inquiries and project needs.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to customer sites.
• Willingness to work overtime as project or customer needs require.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Automotive coatings experience, including exposure to OEM or refinish applications.
• Experience with automated spray equipment and related application technologies.
• Customer-facing technical support experience, such as supporting trials, audits, or product launches.
• Bilingual Japanese language skills for supporting global or regional customer interactions.
• Familiarity with internal business systems used to transition products from laboratory development to manufacturing and customer implementation.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail in experimental design and data interpretation.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.
• Interest in ongoing professional development, including training and education related to coatings technology.

Work Environment

This role operates in a laboratory and technical service environment with flexible start times, typically within shifts such as 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The position involves frequent use of spray application equipment, coating evaluation tools, and standard laboratory instruments. The chemist works closely with other chemists, technical leaders, manufacturing personnel, and customers, balancing laboratory work, data analysis, and reporting with occasional customer site visits. The environment requires strict adherence to safety, environmental, and waste-handling procedures, including safe handling of chemicals, coatings, and waste streams.

The role offers exposure to advanced automotive coatings technology, a collaborative team culture, strong employee recognition programs, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career development and tuition reimbursement.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of South Holland, IL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60000.00 - $85000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in South Holland,IL. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 23, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.