Materials Scientist

Please note that this role, Materials Scientist opening is not immediate, but we do plan to hire for this position in Q1 2025. We welcome applications from qualified candidates now, as we will be reviewing submittals and moving forward with interviews at the start of next year

Sr. Materials / Polymer Scientist

Job Summary

• Drives business growth and focuses on new product development, process development, and operation/customer support.
• Enhances division’s core competency of engineered mineral solutions for use in thermoplastics, thermosets and rubber applications, both existing and new/developmental products.
• Innovates and leads New Product Development (NPD) programs in response to customer needs.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Promotes and maintains a safe work environment for self and others.
• Manages projects of moderate size & scope.
• Makes substantial contributions to determining team goals and objectives.
• Leads or assists in the new product/process/method development, testing and characterization techniques tailored to product applications, and/or scale-up from laboratory to commercial scale through plant trials including at the customer sites.
• Writes technical reports documenting scientific work, experimental results, and project achievements.
• Communicates project results via technical and business-focused presentations internally and at external conferences
• Identifies development projects to feed the NPD pipeline in alignment with market trends and business strategies.
• Keeps current with technical literature and IP and uses that knowledge to generate ideas for new products or applications
• Acts as a point-of-contact with IP and the Legal team, translating discoveries and results into patent applications.
• Builds and maintains relationships with technical counterparts at customers, service providers and marketing teams.
• Leads or assists in external R&D programs with universities and other institution
• Works with other Imerys entities and business units to evaluate emerging technologies.
• Facilitates development and professional growth of others including junior scientists and technicians.
• Travel up to 10% (domestic & international)

Skills and Attributes Required

• Strong interpersonal skills and team work/collaboration spirit
• Strong technical, troubleshooting & data analysis skills
• Strong communication skills (spoken and written).
• Capable of working independently, multi-tasking and balancing priorities while working on multiple projects concurrently.
• Able to explain technical concepts in non-technical and clear language
• Proficient in statistical analysis, knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE) is a plus
• Experience with additive functionalization // interfacial chemistry
• Proficient in setting up standard polymer test methods, and ability to train technicians to deliver accurate results.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between the physical/chemical properties of inorganic materials and their impact on polymer performance
• Desire to work “hands-on” in our laboratory or at customers’ facilities.
• Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary, multicultural, New Product Development project team.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing operation.
• Experience in thermoset composites is a plus.
• Industrial mineral processing experience including thermal processing/calcination, milling, and classification is a plus
• High level of knowledge of powder processing technology is a plus
• Experience with data analytics/machine learning in material science applications is a plus.

Education/Experience Required

• Industrial experience in polymers / material science with a strong foundation in structure property relationships
• PhD in chemical/plastics/material science plus 5 years experience is preferred; Master’s degree plus minimum 8 years experience, or Bachelor’s Degree plus minimum 10 years experience
• Application experience in transportation, packaging, building/construction and electronics is a plus