Chemical Engineer

Synsus Private Label Partners; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Synsus Private Label Partners in Raleigh, NC seeks an R&D Chemical Engineer to lead and support scale-up efforts from lab concept to pilot production. You will bridge the gap between formulation development and manufacturing, ensuring smooth technology transfer and high-quality outputs.

The role emphasizes hands-on lab work, collaborative problem solving with chemists and production staff, and maintaining rigorous documentation and 5S standards in pilot operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
• 5+ years of plant nutrition formulation/development experience desired.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a fully functional scale-up laboratory, ensuring equipment is properly set up, calibrated, and safe.
• Design and perform formulation development experiments to optimize processes for efficient scale-up and manufacture.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for smooth knowledge transfer from R&D to manufacturing, including on-site support as needed.
• Troubleshoot formulation and process issues in pilot and commercial production, adjusting mixing order, shear profile, and add-rate to meet specifications and optimize worker safety.
• Maintain accurate documentation of experiments, protocols, and all manufacturing activities; generate batch records and Certificates of Analysis (COAs).
• Plan, execute, and document small-scale production runs (1-40 L) using various laboratory equipment and conduct in-process controls (pH, specific gravity, viscosity, particle size, visual inspection, stability screening).
• Stage raw materials, verify identity and traceability, and package, label, and ship samples according to SOPs; manage pilot lot inventory and sample retention.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards, following chemical handling procedures, PPE requirements, and GHS/SDS guidelines.
• Work with chemists to translate bench-scale methods into repeatable pilot SOPs and recommend process or equipment improvements.
• Uphold 5S principles in the pilot area, maintain preventive maintenance logs, and perform basic calibrations.
• Contribute to S&OP hand-off data, including yields, cycle times, critical parameters, and safety notes.

Skills

Formulation development

Scale-up process

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

5+ years in plant nutrition formulation/development

Job description

The R&D Chemical Engineer provides essential technical leadership and hands‑on support within the Formulation Development team, bridging the gap between research innovation and manufacturing execution. This position works in close collaboration with both R&D scientists and manufacturing personnel to facilitate the successful scale‑up of new formulations from laboratory concept to pilot‑scale production. While not directly managing production staff, the R&D Chemical Engineer plays a pivotal role in establishing, maintaining, and optimizing the bench‑to‑pilot scale production laboratory, ensuring smooth technology transfer and effective communication throughout development and production phases. By acting as a key liaison between R&D and manufacturing teams, this role drives process improvements, supports the transition of innovative products to manufacturing, and helps sustain high standards of operational excellence and product quality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a fully functional scale‑up laboratory, ensuring equipment is properly set up, calibrated, and safe.
• Design and perform formulation development experiments to optimize processes for efficient scale‑up and manufacture.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams for smooth knowledge transfer from R&D to manufacturing, including on‑site support as needed.
• Troubleshoot formulation and process issues in pilot and commercial production, adjusting mixing order, shear profile, and add‑rate to meet specifications and optimize worker safety.
• Maintain accurate documentation of experiments, protocols, and all manufacturing activities; generate batch records and Certificates of Analysis (COAs).
• Plan, execute, and document small‑scale production runs (1-40 L) using various laboratory equipment and conduct in‑process controls (pH, specific gravity, viscosity, particle size, visual inspection, stability screening).
• Stage raw materials, verify identity and traceability, and package, label, and ship samples according to SOPs; manage pilot lot inventory and sample retention.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards, following chemical handling procedures, PPE requirements, and GHS/SDS guidelines.
• Work with chemists to translate bench‑scale methods into repeatable pilot SOPs and recommend process or equipment improvements.
• Uphold 5S principles in the pilot area, maintain preventive maintenance logs, and perform basic calibrations.
• Contribute to S&OP hand‑off data, including yields, cycle times, critical parameters, and safety notes.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree
• 5+ years' work experience in plant nutrition formulation/development desired

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to touch, handle, or feel. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands, and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.
• The vision requirements include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Employees must be able to stand for long periods of time.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.