Development Chemist

Vangrace; Johnson City (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vangrace in Johnson City, TN is seeking a Development Chemist to lead the creation of advanced battery separator materials for lead-acid systems. You will drive formulation development from lab to pilot scale and collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve performance, durability, and cost effectiveness.

Responsibilities include designing new PE/AGM separator concepts, optimizing extrusion, coating, and testing protocols, and communicating results through reports and presentations.

Qualifications

• Experience developing polymer-based battery separators or porous membranes.
• Familiarity with extrusion, coating, and polymer compounding processes.
• Experience using DOE and data-driven optimization.
• Ability to communicate complex technical results clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and synthesis of new high-performance separator materials (PE, silica-filled, AGM).
• Optimize extrusion, pore formation, and coating to improve permeability and mechanical strength.
• Use DOE to structure testing of surface chemistry, wettability, and pore structure and relate to cell performance.
• Collaborate with cell developers to integrate separators into prototype cells and conduct abuse tests.
• Prepare technical reports, SOPs, and presentations; present findings to stakeholders.
• Identify safety, yield, and process improvements to reduce waste and cost.

Skills

Polymer science

DOE

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Safety awareness

Education

BS or MS in Materials Science or Chemical Engineering or Polymer Science or Chemistry

Tools

SEM

DSC

TGA

Porosimetry

Tensile testing

ICP

Job description

Our client needs a highly motivated and innovative Development Chemist to join their team.

The Development Chemist will drive the development of battery separator technologies for lead-acid batteries, focusing on improving performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

The Development Chemist will develop new formulations, optimize manufacturing processes, and validate product performance from the lab to pilot-scale production.

The Development Chemist focus area’s Polyethylene (PE) separators, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) materials, Silica-filled rubber separators, autoclaved vulcanized rubber separators. Prefer Lead-acid systems

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and synthesis of new, high-performance battery separator materials (polyethylene, silica-filled materials, and AGM) to meet emerging market needs.
• Optimize manufacturing processes including extrusion, pore formation, and coating technologies to enhance separator permeability, mechanical strength, and electrical resistance.
• Utilize Design of Experiments (DOE) to structure and execute comprehensive testing protocols to evaluate separator-level attributes (surface chemistry, wettability, pore structure) and their impact on cell performance.
• Lead programs for incremental product and quality improvement using tools; DOE, problem solving tools such as root cause analysis and EVOP (evolutionary optimization)
• Collaborate with cell developers to integrate new separators into prototype cells, conducting abusive, electrochemical, and life‑cycle tests to validate improvements. Evaluate separator performance focusing on ER, acid displacement, dendrite suppression, and oxidation stability.
• Utilize advanced analytical equipment (FIB‑SEM, CT scanning, mercury porosimetry) to analyze material microstructure and failure mechanisms.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Manufacturing, Sales, Quality) to transfer new products from the laboratory into pilot‑scale and commercial production.
• Write detailed technical reports, SOPs, and conference materials (presentations, technical papers, etc.), and present research findings to stakeholders.
• Awareness of the patent landscape, ensure programs are safe to run to product fruition, which leads to unique solutions, to file patents where appropriate to protect MP innovation and IP.
• Lead by example to promote a zero‑incident safety culture
• Ensure strict adherence to safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency
• Encourage team‑driven ideas and implement practical, data‑driven solutions
• Promote respect, inclusion, and engagement In a collaborative environment

Requirements

• BS and/or MS degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry
• 5 + years development polymers, porous membranes, or separator technology.
• Polyethylene (PE) separators, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) materials, Silica-filled rubber separators, autoclaved vulcanized rubber separators.
• Strong understanding of polymer physics, surface chemistry, and electrochemical transport mechanisms in porous materials.
• Hands‑on capability with extrusion, polymer compounding, and coating technologies.
• Expertise with material characterization tools: SEM, DSC, TGA, Porosimetry, Tensile testers ICP.
• Familiarity with standard global battery testing methods (cycling, EIS, CV), working to American, European and Asian systems as necessary.
• Experience working with technicians engineers and operators resolving formulations or process problems on the plant floor
• Experience using AI‑enhanced modeling and high‑throughput data analysis to accelerate component optimization is preferred.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, ability to work independently in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proven ability to manage NPD projects, and excellent technical communication skills.
• Travel domestically and Internationally to internal plants, customers and conferences