Sr. Materials & Applications Scientist/Eng

POLYCORP LTD; Elora; On-site; CAD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

POLYCORP LTD in Elora, Ontario, is seeking a Sr. Materials & Applications Scientist/Engineer to lead technical development of elastomeric materials from concept to commercialization.

You will collaborate with business development, quality and manufacturing to drive product launches and provide application support to customers. The role requires a BS in chemistry, materials science, or polymer/chemical engineering with 7–10+ years in rubber.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in chemistry, materials science, polymer engineering or chemical engineering with 7–10+ years in rubber/ elastomer industry.
• Strong communication skills to present technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience driving product development from concept to commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of elastomeric materials and applications.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and customers to commercialize new products.
• Provide technical support and troubleshoot material, processing, and performance issues.
• Guide manufacturing operations with technical input for extrusion, calendering, and molding.
• Communicate project outcomes via technical reports and presentations.
• Mentor junior scientists and engineers.

Skills

Elastomer science

Rubber industry

Technical communication

Cross-functional

Problem solving

Data-driven

Travel readiness

Education

BSc in chemistry or materials science or polymer/chemical engineering

Tools

RPA

MDR

Mooney Viscosity

Tensile testing

DSC

Job description

Sr. Materials & Applications Scientist/Eng

Full Time Polycorp Ltd Elora, Elora, ON, CA

4 days ago Requisition ID: 1113

Salary Range: $105,000.00 To $125,000.00 Annually

JOB PURPOSE:

Lead the technical development of new and improved products from concept through commercialization. Work closely with business development, quality, and manufacturing teams to drive product innovation and successful product launches. This position also serves as a key technical resource for customers, providing application support and helping solve complex materials challenges. Additionally, this position provides internal technical guidance to production teams to support day-to-day manufacturing operations and continuous improvement initiatives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development and optimization of new elastomeric materials and applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to bring products from development to commercial launch.
• Provide technical support and application expertise to customers.
• Investigate and resolve material, processing, and performance-related issues.
• Support manufacturing operations through technical guidance and troubleshooting.
• Identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation.
• Ensure products meet performance, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements.
• Design, plan, and execute laboratory experiments, including:
  • Developing experimental plans and test methodologies
  • Setting up and operating laboratory equipment and systems
  • Generating, analyzing, and interpreting experimental data
  • Documenting findings through technical reports and presentations
  • Collaborating with technical staff, suppliers, customers, and external partners
• Summarize and communicate project outcomes through technical reports, presentations, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to commercial teams by troubleshooting customer issues, evaluating application performance, and recommending solutions.
• Serve as a technical resource for manufacturing operations, supporting extrusion, compression molding, and calendering processes at the Elora facility and other locations as required.
• Monitor developments in elastomer science, emerging technologies, competitive products, and relevant patent landscapes to identify opportunities and risks.
• Generate invention disclosure documentation and support intellectual property protection initiatives.
• Support product marketing and business development activities through the creation of technical content, including white papers, webinars, presentations, technical bulletins, and customer‑facing materials.
• Represent the company as a technical expert in interactions with customers, suppliers, industry partners, and research collaborators.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, process efficiency, operational performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Promote and maintain a safe working environment while ensuring compliance with applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to evaluate alternative raw materials and suppliers, reducing risk and delivering cost savings.
• Mentor and support the professional development of junior scientists, engineers, and technical team members.
• Ensure the requirements of ISO 9001 and Polycorp's QMS are conformed with.
• All other duties as required.

SKILLS, EDUCATION, COMPUTER & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Minimum of BSc in chemistry, materials science, polymer engineering or chemical engineering including 7-10+ years’ experience in rubber industry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to audiences at all levels of the organization and deliver impactful presentations.
• Strong working knowledge of thermoset elastomer compounding, including polymers, fillers, processing aids, cure systems, and specialty additives, with a thorough understanding of their interactions and effects on product performance and processability.
• Proven experience collaborating with sales, marketing and customers to develop rubber‑based solutions with a proven track record commercializing new products from concept through to production
• Hands‑on experience performing and interpreting elastomer characterization and testing, including rheological, physical, thermal, and performance evaluations such as: RPA, MDR, Mooney Viscosity, Tensile, Cut and Chip, DSC, etc.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with a data‑driven approach to troubleshooting and decision‑making.
• Strong organizational, project management, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross‑functional team environment while building strong relationships with colleagues, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders across diverse technical and business disciplines.
• Self‑motivated, results‑oriented, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10-15% of the time to support customers, suppliers, manufacturing facilities, and industry events.

ADDITIONAL DESIRABLES – PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED:

• Direct industrial experience of rubber manufacturing processes, including extrusion, compression molding, and calendaring is strongly preferred
• Experience developing elastomeric products for demanding applications requiring environmental resistance, chemical resistance, wear resistance, and/or noise and vibration mitigation is considered a strong asset.

NOC #: 21320