SENIOR PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST

Job Description

Position Summary: This position will be responsible for new product development of materials used in the residential and commercial building industry. He/She will be responsible for competitive analysis, formulation and application improvement of new products as well as value engineering initiatives intended for existing product lines. He/she will interface closely with the Manager of R&D and direct scientists and technicians to design, formulate, and develop processes, products, systems, and applications using polymer science and composite material designs. The ability to use and understand analytical techniques such as FTIR, Chromatography, DMA, DSC and Rheometry to evaluate materials is required. Correlations between the analytical data and the performance and durability of the finished product is essential in order to establish quantitative performance benchmarks, reduce development time and assure that products or systems will meet code body and internal performance standards.

Position reports directly to the Research and Development Manager and provides an interface with the New Product manager, Marketing, Production, Technical Services, Purchasing and with Quality Assurance. This position involves collaboration with the process engineering teams to assist in scale up of these products such that all internal cost and performance requirements are met. He/She is also expected to collaboratively support Technical Services with 3rd party finished product & systems code testing as well as working with the new product manager, purchasing, sales department, Marketing, customers and suppliers on key programs.

Essential Duties include, but are not limited to:

• The ability to work independently, direct research projects and to work in teams towards executing the initiatives of the Manager of R&D and the management team is essential.
• Generate ideas that will enhance existing products and lead to the development of new products, test procedures and protocols.
• Use of sound scientific principles such as statistical analysis, Six Sigma, design of experiments is required.
• Execute plant trials by transferring technology from small scale lab models to large scale plant production. Conduct and design testing internally and externally adhering to regional and third party code agencies and guidelines.
• Lead and direct project teams to develop new products and systems for the building industry.
• Working closely with partner companies and key raw material suppliers to advance the development of products or processes.
• Lead major technical initiatives in collaboration with the R&D Manager, Operations, Marketing, Purchasing , and Technical Services
• Use advanced material characterization techniques to establish structure property relationships of materials and final product performance
• Represent Polyglass USA at key industry meetings and technical conferences.
• Manage technical business support for current products including raw material qualification, benchmarking of competitive materials and product/system testing internally and at external laboratories.
• Publish technical reports and conduct presentations at regular intervals on key projects.
• Advance the technology in building products & systems to improve performance, reduce total installed cost and established sustained competitive advantage.
• Train, supervise and direct R&D scientists and technicians as needed and as directed by the Manager of R&D.
• Promotes health, safety and environmental regulations by ensuring that standards, policies, and procedures are adhered to in compliance with corporate, federal, state, and local requirements.
• Demonstrated proficiency in development of new products for the building materials like waterproofing membranes, coatings, flooring membranes and adhesives.
• Good working knowledge of colloid systems and adhesion surface science.
• Proven capability to initiate, plan and lead cross-functional teams for research / product development initiatives.
• Experience developing product constructions from the lab, through scale-up and to the final technology transfer stage in the production process
• Ability to use analytical lab tools and data to generate correlations that predict ultimate material performance and durability
• Strong analytical problem-solving and decision making skills
• Effectively coordinate and manage scientists and technicians in support of several simultaneous research programs
• Effective working knowledge of building materials and waterproofing membrane systems codes and standards
• Experience with design of experiments and statistical analysis of data
• Ability to identify novel new approaches that establish sustained competitive advantage
• Able to work effectively with internal and external partners at a technical and interpersonal level
• Excellent planning, organizational and documentation skills
• Effective teamwork and communication skills are essential.
• Performs other duties as required for the success of Polyglass USA, Inc.

Requirements:

• Masters in Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Material Science, Polymer Science, or Colloid and Surface Science with 7+ years experience in one or more of these fields: asphalt and or polymer modified asphalts, material science, polymer chemistry, adhesives, waterproofing and or sound proofing membrane development or similar endeavours.
• PhD preferred
• Previous Supervisory experience preferred