Formulation Chemist

Job Title: Chemist

Location: Apex, NC

Direct Hire role- relocation assistance offered

Salary: $70,000-$80,000/year

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this role is to provide technical support to sales personnel and customers, assist with product applications and complaints, and develop new application formulations to meet customer requirements for automotive soft trim and weather seal applications. The Chemist will work closely with Manufacturing, Research and Development teams, and Technical Sales for Flame Retardant, Coated Fabrics, and Industrial Coatings markets. This position is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of product quality are adhered to.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare application formulations and apply them to customer-supplied substrates.
• Apply formulated coatings using lab or pilot-scale methods such as spray, gravure, dip/nip, pad bath, or similar techniques.
• Perform testing to customer requirements for physical properties, color/aesthetics, and flammability.
• Develop innovative approaches to modify existing formulations, simulate customer part construction, conduct testing, and scale up production across various manufacturing locations, if necessary.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team locally, nationally, and globally to promote the development of chemistry and capabilities.
• Present and share findings with Technical Sales, Customers, and internal teams (R&D, Applications).
• Successfully complete Technical Service Request projects in a timely manner, adhering to department guidelines and priorities set by the supervisor.
• Act as a resource for the Technical Service Group, Quality Control, and Production.
• Organize and maintain all pertinent testing information in laboratory project files for future reference.
• Ensure the work area and laboratory space remain clean, organized, and orderly.
• This role involves supporting customer trials at a Center of Excellence for North American automotive customers, requiring professional customer interaction and presentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Plastics Engineering, or a related field.
• 2 years or more of industrial experience, with a focus on the formulation of specialty coatings, color matching, plant processing procedures, quality control testing, and technical service.
• Specific or relevant experience with coatings, pigments, flame retardants, OEM specifications, color matching, surface tension testing, and hydrophobicity testing is preferred.
• Experience with lab equipment, such as Crocking, Abrasion Testers, Humidity Chambers, Weatherometers, W-Flex, Drop Shape Analyzers, Martindale, Flock Peel Testers, and Acoustic Chambers, is a plus.
• Ability to handle multiple ongoing projects simultaneously without close supervision.
• Strong communication and organizational skills to effectively interact with both internal and external customers.
• Must be eligible to work in the US.

Additional Skills & Experience:

• Do you have any experience or skills related to the coatings field, such as compounding coatings, applying coatings via gravure or spray methods, or conducting OEM specifications testing
• Can your degree in organic chemistry, polymer science, or plastics engineering contribute to the team’s goals in the coatings industry?
• Does your specific or relevant experience with coatings, pigments, flame retardants, OEM specifications, color matching, surface tension testing, and hydrophobicity testing enhance your suitability for this role