Coatings Chemist II
Listed pay for BS-level Formulation / Compounding roles on Crosslinked center on $88k (42 with a salary).
Formulate and scale water- and solvent-based industrial coatings from concept to commercialization
Worth knowing
Why it is interesting. Full ownership of coating projects concept-to-commercialization with customer-facing sample evaluation and scale-up support.
Might not be for you. 15+ years of formulation experience is the stated bar — only 5-10 years considered as an exception; heavy documentation and QMS/SPC work.
Core polymer roleDevelop and optimize water- and solvent-based coating formulations; evaluate polymers, additives, solvents; FTIR; 1K and 2K coating systems
- Seniority
- Senior
- Work
- On-site
- Type
- Full-time
- Degree
- BS
- Experience
- 5–15 yrs
- Industry
- Coatings
- Role
- Formulation / Compounding
Role details
Base Salary
$80,000-$120,000
Benefits
Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, PTO, and 401(k)
Join an established R&D team developing innovative water- and solvent-based coating formulations for a wide range of industrial applications. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced formulation chemist who enjoys owning projects from concept through commercialization while working independently in a hands-on laboratory environment.
Responsibilities
- Develop and optimize water- and solvent-based coating formulations to meet product performance requirements.
- Formulate new products and improve existing formulations for a variety of coating applications.
- Analyze technical challenges and determine appropriate methods and experimental approaches.
- Evaluate raw materials, including polymers, additives, solvents, and other coating components.
- Conduct feasibility studies, proof-of-concept work, and product development research.
- Scale formulations from laboratory development through manufacturing and commercialization.
- Establish testing methods and evaluate chemical, physical, performance, and stability properties.
- Interpret test data and provide technical recommendations.
- Prepare product samples for customer evaluation and approval.
- Support cost reduction initiatives and continuous product improvements.
- Research emerging technologies, competitive products, and industry trends.
- Provide technical support and troubleshooting during scale-up and production.
- Prepare detailed technical reports documenting procedures, results, and conclusions.
- Maintain laboratory equipment, testing instruments, chemical inventory, and laboratory supplies.
- Assist with laboratory equipment selection and purchasing.
- Support SDS management and regulatory documentation.
- Follow laboratory and plant safety procedures while maintaining an organized work environment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and participate in continuous improvement and LEAN initiatives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field.
- 15+ years of R&D formulation experience with water-based and/or solvent-based coatings (candidates with 5-10 years of strong formulation experience may also be considered).
- Hands-on coatings formulation experience.
- Analytical laboratory experience, including FTIR.
- Excellent laboratory documentation, organization, and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Familiarity with QMS, DOE methodologies, and SPC.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Polymer chemistry experience.
- Experience with 1K and 2K coating systems.
- Experience evaluating or purchasing laboratory equipment.
- Experience supporting product scale-up and commercialization.
- Commutable to Walled Lake, Michigan.
If you'd like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Tory Mack at [email protected]
JO: 7.31.26TM
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