Vice President – R&D (Material Science – Coatings & Adhesives)

Scimplify; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 6,000,000 - 9,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Keka Technologies Private Limited in Bengaluru is seeking a Vice President – R&D for Material Science focused on coatings and adhesives. The role leads R&D, scale-up, and commercialization, shaping advanced coating technologies and formulations to meet market needs.

You will collaborate with Commercial, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Customer Success teams to accelerate innovation and build a robust technology roadmap while mentoring a high-performing R&D organization.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. / M.Tech. / M.Sc. in Material Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related.
• 15–20+ years of R&D leadership in specialty chemicals, coatings, adhesives, or polymers.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary R&D teams.
• Strong knowledge of formulation science and material characterization.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the R&D strategy for coatings, adhesives, and advanced materials.
• Lead end-to-end product development from concept to scale-up.
• Drive technology transfer from lab to pilot plant and manufacturing.
• Collaborate with functions to ensure successful product launches and compliance.
• Build collaborations with universities and partners; mentor the R&D team.

Skills

Polymer science

Formulation chemistry

Cross-functional leadership

Product development

Technology roadmap

Technical mentorship

Education

PhD/MTech/MSc (Material Science)

Job description

Vice President – R&D (Material Science – Coatings & Adhesives)

15+ Years

Full-Time

About Us

We are a specialty chemicals manufacturing company with a full stack solution from R&D to manufacturing and global supply chain of chemicals to 26+ countries. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India we cater to pharmaceutical, agrochemical, industrial chemicals, food, nutraceuticals and animal nutrition industries.

Our B2B fulfillment platform supports businesses globally in developing and manufacturing chemicals from lab to commercial scale. With a team of in-house R&D experts and scientists, we offer custom synthesis and route scouting services to support manufacturers in product development.

We are VC backed - here is a read . We are 450+ people strong and have entities in India, Japan, USA, UAE and Indonesia. We are currently exporting to over 17 countries from India.

The Vice President – R&D will lead the research, development, scale-up, and commercialization of advanced coating and adhesive technologies. The role requires strong technical expertise in polymer science and formulation chemistry, coupled with strategic leadership to develop innovative products that meet customer and market requirements.

The individual will work closely with Commercial, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Customer Success teams to accelerate innovation and establish Scimplify as a preferred specialty chemicals partner.

Key Responsibilities

Technology & Innovation

• Define and execute the R&D strategy for coatings, adhesives, and advanced material solutions.
• Drive innovation by developing differentiated, high-performance formulations aligned with market needs.
• Identify emerging technologies, industry trends, and opportunities for new product development.
• Build a robust technology roadmap to support long-term business growth.

Product Development

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept, formulation, laboratory validation, pilot trials, and commercial scale-up.
• Develop solvent-based, water-based, hot melt, pressure-sensitive, reactive, and specialty adhesive formulations.
• Lead formulation development for industrial, protective, functional, and specialty coatings.
• Optimize existing products for performance, cost efficiency, sustainability, and manufacturability.

Customer-Centric Innovation

• Collaborate with customers to understand technical requirements and develop customized solutions.
• Provide technical leadership during customer evaluations, product trials, and commercialization.
• Support the commercial team during technical discussions and business development initiatives.

Process Development & Scale-Up

• Lead technology transfer from laboratory to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing.
• Ensure successful process validation and manufacturing readiness.
• Drive continuous process improvements to improve quality, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Establish strong experimental design methodologies and scientific documentation.
• Promote innovation through patents, publications, and intellectual property development.
• Build collaborations with universities, research institutes, and technology partners.

Quality, Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure products comply with applicable regulatory and environmental standards.
• Work closely with Quality and Regulatory teams to maintain global compliance.
• Drive implementation of sustainable and environmentally responsible technologies.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, and Commercial teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Support strategic sourcing of specialty raw materials and evaluate new suppliers.
• Participate in customer visits, technical presentations, and business reviews.
• Build and mentor a high-performing R&D organization.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, scientific excellence, and continuous learning.
• Develop technical capabilities and succession planning within the R&D function.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. / M.Tech. / M.Sc. in Material Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 15–20+ years of experience in R&D within the specialty chemicals, coatings, adhesives, polymers, or advanced materials industry.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary R&D teams.
• Strong understanding of formulation science, polymer chemistry, surface science, and material characterization techniques.