Title: Sr. Development Chemical Engineer
Shift: M-F | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Salary: $100,000 – $120,000 per year, depending on experience
Sr. Development Chemical Engineer Role:
Our client is seeking a seasoned technical leader to bridge the gap between complex polymer formulation and large-scale manufacturing. This role exists to lead the transition of new products from concept to commercialization by optimizing plant processes and ensuring innovative designs are both functional and manufacturable at their Marietta, OH facility.
Sr. Development Chemical Engineer Responsibilities:
- Lead facility efforts for developing new products from initial concept through full-scale commercialization using stage-gate methodology
- Translate customer functional performance requirements into technical product specifications and manufacturing parameters
- Prioritize process engineering improvements to enhance melt viscosity, material handling, and overall plant throughput
- Direct plant trials and facilitate the formal hand-off of new products to the manufacturing team
- Collaborate with internal sales teams to identify new market opportunities using existing technology
- Provide high-level technical support to manufacturing departments to resolve complex processing issues and minimize downtime
- Facilitate cross-departmental teams focused on improving plant profitability through scrap reduction and improved run rates
- Oversee the integration of PVC, TPO, and TPU formulations into extrusion and calendering production lines
- Communicate project strategies and technical results clearly to internal stakeholders and executive leadership
- Document all trial results and process specifications to ensure consistent quality and repeatability
- Partner with Quality and Operations to ensure all new processes meet rigorous internal and customer-specific standards
- Act as a technical mentor to junior engineering and lab staff to strengthen the department’s overall process capabilities
Sr. Development Chemical Engineer Reporting Relationships:
- The candidate will report directly to the Technical Director and will collaborate closely with the Vice President of Operations.
About You:
- Hold a BS in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Chemistry
- Possess 10–20 years of experience in plastic product or process development
- Demonstrate expert-level knowledge of extrusion or calendering processes, specifically with PVC or similar thermoplastics
- Exhibit a strong understanding of how chemical formulations impact large-scale manufacturing equipment
- Display a "hands-on" engineering approach with a desire to spend time on the production floor during trials
- Show proficiency in managing the entire product lifecycle from the lab bench to the shipping dock
- Possess strong problem-solving skills and an inherent curiosity regarding polymer behavior
- Communicate effectively with personnel at all levels, from shop floor operators to executive management
- Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously with high attention to detail
- Adapt quickly to a "multi-hat" environment within a mid-sized, agile company
- Maintain a high level of personal and professional ethics in all internal and external interactions
- Utilize Microsoft Office and other technical software to organize data and report findings
Next Steps: If you are a driven, process-oriented problem solver, we would like to hear from you.
Additional Information:
- Equal Opportunity Employer: Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
- Physical Demands: This position requires the ability to work in both a laboratory and a manufacturing environment. Candidates must be able to stand for extended periods during plant trials and wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Working Conditions: This role is based in a manufacturing facility; exposure to noise, dust, and varying temperatures is expected during production trials.
\#INDRBR