Senior Scientist I

About the Company

Nitto, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nitto Denko Corporation – a leading global chemical manufacturer with approximately $7 billion in revenue. We have a diverse portfolio of business operations across the Americas, including energy materials, industrial tapes, aerospace, automotive, optronics, environmental solutions, and life sciences. Nitto contributes to the daily lives of individuals and the future of industry with our ability to generate innovative and unique solutions. Our proprietary technologies turn ocean water into drinking water, make transportation safer, create sharper LCD displays, and keep homes warm and dry, among others. Innovation and originality are important parts of our company values, and we never stop inventing.

Why Join Us? You’ll be at the heart of innovation, helping shape the future of technology while protecting what makes us unique. If you're ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

The Senior Scientist I is responsible for the design, synthesis, characterization, and development of novel organic molecules, monomers, polymers, and advanced functional materials. The ideal candidate possesses strong expertise in both synthetic organic chemistry and polymer chemistry, with demonstrated success in designing and executing complex multi-step organic syntheses as well as polymer synthesis and characterization. The candidate will independently drive research projects from molecular design through material evaluation and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop next-generation materials. Experience in Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex multi-step organic syntheses for small molecules, monomers, and functional intermediates.
• Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize polymers and polymeric materials with targeted properties.
• Develop and optimize synthetic routes, reaction conditions, and purification processes.
• Design new molecular architectures and materials to address technical challenges and meet application-specific requirements.
• Characterize synthesized compounds and materials using appropriate analytical techniques and interpret data independently.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to accelerate material development and technology advancement.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and prepare technical reports, presentations, and project updates.
• Identify patentable inventions and support intellectual property generation through invention disclosures and patent-related activities.
• Stay current with advances in organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and emerging materials technologies.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry or a related field.
• Strong expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and polymer chemistry.
• Demonstrated experience conducting complex multi-step organic synthesis, reaction optimization, and purification.
• Demonstrated experience in polymer synthesis, including monomer design, polymerization, purification, and characterization.
• Ability to establish structure-property relationships across both small molecules and polymeric materials.
• Experience in Covalent Organic Framework (COF) synthesis and characterization is a plus.
• Extensive hands-on experience with analytical techniques including NMR, LC-MS, HPLC, FTIR, GPC/SEC, and thermal analysis methods.
• Experience with purification techniques such as column chromatography, flash chromatography, recrystallization, extraction, and precipitation.
• Proven ability to independently design experiments, troubleshoot synthetic challenges, and manage multiple research activities.
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety and risk assessment for chemical processes.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Highly motivated and self-driven, with the ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks under aggressive timelines.
• Ability to provide constructive technical input and collaborate with teammates to ensure timely project execution.
• Ability to maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and write unambiguous comprehensive procedures and technical reports.
• Ability to understand and communicate promptly in English during safety-critical tasks or emergencies, as required to ensure safe performance of essential job duties.

Pay range and compensation package

The anticipated annual base salary range is for this position is: $110,000-$130,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on various factors including qualifications, education, experience, and location. The pay range is subject to change at any time dependent on a variety of internal and external factors.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Nitto, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, reproductive health decision making, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Nitto is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants throughout the recruitment process. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact Human Resources.

Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act where applicable, Nitto, Inc. will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements.