Senior R&D Coatings Chemist – Lead & Innovate

Jotun; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Career development across disciplines

Leadership with team focus

Inclusive company culture

Team building and social activities

Job summary

Jotun MEIA FZ-LLC in Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced R&D Senior Chemist to develop and maintain coatings, binders, and raw materials. You will lead end-to-end projects, validate performance, and drive sustainable innovations across global/regional programs.

The role requires a Master’s degree with extensive experience (or PhD with relevant experience) and strong English communication skills. Competitive compensation, learning opportunities, and career development are offered in a

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, OR Bachelor’s degree with at least 12 years of relevant experience, OR PhD with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Strong coatings formulation knowledge in protective coatings, including binder systems and curing chemistries.
• Experience with performance validation (weathering, corrosion, accelerated testing) and knowledge of test methods and standards.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive assigned products, assets, projects, tasks, and global transfers end-to-end, including planning, formulation, testing, validation, and documentation.
• Independently execute projects and coordinate larger tasks to meet timelines and quality targets, providing technical recommendations based on data.
• Support compliance with internationally accepted performance and certification requirements through robust test planning, execution, and interpretation.
• Contribute to defining and initiating new global/regional innovation projects, focusing on sustainability-driven developments.
• Coach junior chemists and technicians; ensure knowledge transfer and competence building.
• Ensure strict adherence to HSEQ requirements and governance, including raw materials, formulations, and test result documentation.

Skills

Coatings formulation

Weathering testing

Project management

English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree + 10 years

Bachelor’s degree + 12 years

PhD + 5 years

Job description

Jotun MEIA FZ-LLC in Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced R&D Senior Chemist to develop and maintain coatings, binders, and raw materials. You will lead end-to-end projects, validate performance, and drive sustainable innovations across global/regional programs.

The role requires a Master’s degree with extensive experience (or PhD with relevant experience) and strong English communication skills. Competitive compensation, learning opportunities, and career development are offered in a