Chemist

ITW; Danvers (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

ITW is seeking a Product Development Chemist to join our R&D team in Minnesota. You will design, develop, and scale-up differentiated adhesive formulations for aerospace, transportation, and general industrial markets, leveraging your entrepreneurial spirit and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

You will manage projects through ITW’s stage-gate process, conduct patent searches, and drive scale-up from lab to full-size batches while maintaining safety, quality, and performance standards.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in polymer or organic chemistry with industrial R&D experience.
• 5–10+ years in product development or adhesives/coatings.
• Experience with adhesives/coatings formulations.
• Experience with polymer testing equipment.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem solving.
• Willing to collaborate in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop new acrylic, polyurethane, and epoxy adhesive formulations for target markets.
• Innovate with polymers, catalysts, modifiers, and monomers for differentiated products.
• Manage technical aspects of projects within ITW’s stage-gate process.
• Conduct patent searches and generate IP.
• Scale up formulations from lab to commercial batches and transfer tech.
• Provide support for current products and qualify alternative raw materials.
• Lead multiple projects independently and use analytical lab equipment.
• Work hands-on in the lab and supervise technicians.
• Promote, support, and adhere to safety and quality policies.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Adhesives formulation

Coatings formulation

Analytical testing

Lab equipment

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

MS or PhD in Organic or Polymer Chemistry

Tools

DSC

TGA

Rheometer

Instron

Job description

Job Description:

SUMMARY

Our Research and Development team plays an important role in our business and product development success. As a Product Development Chemist, you will get to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, leveraging your entrepreneurial spirit, investigative abilities, and customer-relationship skills, to create great product development outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to design, develop, and scale-up differentiated commercial products in a rapidly growing environment!

ITW’S BUSINESS MODEL & CULTURE:

• We have an environment shaped by our decentralized, entrepreneurial culture that brings our exciting ideas to life. Our people thrive in our “flexibility within the framework” approach.
• We are committed to providing you with growth and development opportunities that maximize your unique potential.
• Our culture empowers you to think and act like a business owner – we want your entrepreneurial spirit to thrive!
• Be a part of One ITW/One Team, where everyone’s contribution matters in our quest to achieve our full potential.
• We live by our Core Values:
• We focus on the essential core of each business opportunity, fostering _ simplicity _ in how we think and execute.
• We gain strength through trial and error and work as a team through jointly _ sharing risk _.
• We treat our customers and suppliers with _ integrity _ and transparency, and constantly strive to do the right thing.
• We deeply _ respect _ diversity at every level of the company and consequently promote an open environment where innovations can emerge from our various backgrounds and experiences.
• We _ trust _ our team members and are confident that they each work to the highest professional standards and in the company’s best interests.

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS JOB IF YOU ENJOY/ARE GOOD AT…

• Are an entrepreneurial self-starter. You take initiative and ownership of your surroundings and constantly seek to find ways to improve.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment that keeps you on your toes – you love a good challenge and stay calm under pressure.
• Are resilient. You enjoy finding solutions to complex challenges and do so with poise and resolve.
• Love putting together the pieces of a puzzle and constantly seek to understand the whole picture.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop new acrylic, polyurethane, and epoxy adhesive compositions for the alternative energy, transportation, wear & abrasion, and general industrial markets.
• Innovate with polymers, catalysts, modifiers, and monomers in adhesives to fulfill unmet customer/application needs for developing differentiated products while complying with adopted ISO requirements.
• Manage technical aspects of assigned projects within ITW’s stage-gate process in conjunction with a project manager.
• Conduct patent searches to monitor competitive innovations and generate intellectual property in own area of development in the form of patents, formulation know-how, and trade secrets.
• Participate in the scale up of formulations from lab scale to mid- and full-size commercial batches. Coordinate and work with internal departments on the technology transfer for scale-up, commercialization, and determine the appropriate design and product specifications to maximize ease of manufacturing and customer application.
• Provide short- and long-term support for current products to maintain ITW’s reputation for quality and performance by qualifying alternative sources of raw materials and validating performance.
• Manage multiple projects/tasks independently and as part of a team and fully utilize analytical laboratory equipment.
• Work hands-on in the laboratory, when necessary, manage the daily activities of a research lab technician(s).
• Promote, support, and adhere to all safety, environmental, and quality policies and procedures.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• MS or PhD in Organic or Polymer Chemistry
• 4-10 years of industrial R&D experience in product development roles.
• Adhesives and coatings formulation experience strongly preferred.
• Strong computer, organizational, and destructive and mechanical testing skills are required. Fluency with Word, Excel, and Access. Experience with polymer testing equipment (DSC, TGA, Rheometer, Instron) highly preferred.
• Successful experience developing adhesives/coatings in a commercial setting.
• Must be willing to collaborate and work in teams to advance ideas and projects.
• Must possess excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and investigative skills.
• Must be a practical, hands-on chemist/scientist with excellent formulation skills and problem-solving ability.

Compensation Information:

The salary for this role is $110,000.00 - $125,000.00. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.