Research Scientist

Adhesive Technologies Research & Development United States, Bridgewater, NJ, NJ Full Time Regular At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ’all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow. This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel. What you´ll do Lead the Rheology Laboratory within the North America Analytical Solutions Group, providing rheological characterization of polymers, adhesives, coatings, and functional materials to support business growth and product innovation. Investigate customer and product challenges through root cause analysis, delivering analytical insights and solutions that support product development, technical service, and commercialization efforts. Develop and execute rheological testing methods using rotational rheometers, DMA, capillary rheometers, and extensional rheometers to characterize flow, deformation, and viscoelastic behavior of materials. Collaborate with R&D, Product Development, Technical Service, and Business teams to design analytical strategies, interpret results, and provide actionable recommendations for timely project execution. Communicate technical findings effectively to cross-functional stakeholders with digital tools and quality report. Leverage expertise in rheological testing and polymer characterization to support product performance evaluation, failure analysis, competitive assessments, and innovation efforts. Experience with hot melt, waterborne, and pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) is highly desirable. Collaborate closely with R&D, product development, technical service, and business teams to define analytical strategies, design experimental plans, and execute studies using state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Maintain laboratory excellence through high-quality data generation, SOP development, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting, and compliance with quality, safety, and continuous improvement standards. What makes you a good fit Minimum M.S. degree required; Ph.D. preferred in Analytical Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with extensive experience in polymer rheological characterization. 5 years or more industrial experience required. Strong hands-on expertise in rheological testing and instrumentation, along with a solid foundation in polymer science. Automation and AI driven operation mindset is a plus Demonstrated ability to interpret complex analytical data and troubleshoot challenging problems involving sophisticated sample matrices. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively present technical findings to diverse audiences. Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams. Some benefits of joining Henkel Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1 Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement JOB ID: 26099713 Job Locations: United States, NJ, Bridgewater, NJ How is work at Henkel United States, Bridgewater, NJ, Adhesive Technologies, Research & Development United States, Irvine, CA, Adhesive Technologies, Research & Development United States, Irvine, CA, Adhesive Technologies, Research & Development United States, Irvine, CA, Adhesive Technologies, Research & Development Sr Chemist United States, Irvine, CA, Adhesive Technologies, Research & Development #J-18808-Ljbffr