Water-Based Adhesives Development Scientist

Company Overview:

The Reynolds Company is an agile and customer focused adhesive innovator, committed to delivering high-performance, fit for use products that meet the evolving needs of industries such as packaging, converting construction, automotive, and more. We are seeking a talented Water-Based Adhesives Development Scientist to join our R&D team, drive the development of novel water-based adhesives, and support our expanding customer base.

Job Summary:

The Water-Based Adhesives Development Chemist/Scientist will be responsible for designing, formulating, and testing water-based adhesive systems to meet customer requirements and industry standards. This role involves hands-on laboratory work, collaboration with cross-functional teams, and a focus on advancing high-performance adhesive solutions. The ideal candidate will bring technical expertise, creativity, and a passion for innovation to support our mission of delivering differentiated bonding technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Formulation Development: Design and develop water-based adhesive formulations (e.g., emulsions, dispersions, or polymer-based systems) for applications in packaging, converting, building and construction, automotive, or other industries.
• Testing & Analysis: Conduct physical and chemical testing (e.g., viscosity, peel strength, shear strength, tack, stability) to evaluate adhesive performance and ensure compliance with specifications.
• Innovation:  Incorporate sustainable and reliable materials and processes into adhesive development, ensuring robust performance and supply resiliency to our customers and markets
• Project Management: Lead or support R&D projects from concept to commercialization, including scale-up from lab to production.
• Collaboration: Work closely with sales, procurement, and manufacturing teams to translate customer needs into viable adhesive solutions.
• Technical Support: Provide expertise to customers and internal teams, troubleshooting issues and optimizing adhesive performance for specific applications.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of formulations, test results, and project progress; prepare technical reports and presentations for stakeholders.
• Industry Awareness: Stay current on advancements in water-based adhesive technologies, raw materials, and regulatory requirements (e.g., REACH, EPA standards).

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biology, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Experience: 3-5 years of experience in adhesive formulation, with a focus on water-based systems (experience with PVA, VAE, acrylics, or polyurethane dispersions is a plus).
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in WB adhesive chemistries.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment (e.g., rheometers, tensile testers, coating applicators).
• Knowledge of adhesive testing standards (e.g., ASTM, ISO).
• Soft Skills: Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Preferred Experience:
• Prior work in industries such as packaging, converting, construction, or automotive adhesives.
• Experience scaling formulations from lab to pilot or production environments.

Desired Competencies:

• Curious, agile learning mindset with a drive to continuously improve adhesive performance.
• Customer focused & process oriented: driven to understand and solve customer problems
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a team that is passionate about helping our customers win. We pride ourselves in our commitment to quality, service, innovation and agility.
• Be part of a family. Reynolds, founded as a family business, holds the DNA of a small business in a competitive environment of large corporations. We are focused on working together to win.
• Competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for career growth.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience with water-based adhesives to Tonya Smith (tsmith@reynoldsglue.com). We are excited to hear how your expertise can contribute to our innovative solutions!