Senior Powder Coatings Chemist

Requirements: BS or higher in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field 5+ years of direct industry experience formulating powder coatings Direct experience developing thermoset powder coatings Experience independently modifying existing formulations and developing new formulations Experience with powder coating chemistries such as epoxy, polyester, hybrid, acrylic, or polyurethane Knowledge of powder coating extrusion and manufacturing processes Understanding of electrostatic spray application and curing behavior Experience with coating performance testing, including weathering, corrosion, chemical resistance, adhesion, hardness, impact, gloss, color, and cure Experience taking formulations from lab development through scale-up and commercialization Strong understanding of coating chemistry, raw materials, formulation principles, processing, and finished-product performance Ability to independently design experiments, interpret data, troubleshoot problems, and make technical decisions Strong analytical, mathematical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills Ability to collaborate effectively with R&D, manufacturing, quality, sales, customers, and suppliers Advanced degree preferred

Duties: Develop and optimize powder coating formulations for various applications and performance requirements Select and optimize resins, curing agents, pigments, fillers, additives, and other raw materials Design and execute laboratory experiments and troubleshoot complex formulation issues Evaluate the relationship between formulation chemistry, processing, application, and coating performance Work with powder manufacturing processes including premix, extrusion, cooling, grinding/classification, and powder handling Conduct coating performance testing and interpret results Troubleshoot coating and manufacturing issues and determine appropriate formulation or process adjustments Support scale-up from laboratory development through pilot and commercial production Lead technical aspects of new product development and commercialization projects Translate customer and market requirements into formulation and product-development strategies Provide technical support to manufacturing, quality, sales, and customer service Work directly with customers and raw material suppliers on technical development and troubleshooting Evaluate new raw materials and develop solutions for challenging coating applications Maintain accurate formulation documentation, laboratory records, and test results Communicate technical findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences Mentor and provide technical guidance to less-experienced chemists Promote laboratory safety, continuous improvement, and disciplined experimentation