Lead Coatings R&D Scientist: Lab-to-Scale Innovation

Prismaticpowders; White City (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

NIC is seeking an experienced Sr. R&D Scientist to lead execution of high-performance coatings and advanced material development programs from concept through qualification, scale-up, and commercialization support.

This is a balanced hands-on and program-driving role. You will perform experimental work, direct technician-supported lab execution, and build the technical body of evidence needed to advance projects through phase-gate review.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of relevant industry experience in coatings formulation, coatings development, materials development, process development, or related chemical product development.
• Demonstrated success leading technical development work in an industrial R&D environment.
• Strong knowledge of coating chemistry, formulation design, cure mechanisms, pigment and filler interactions, and performance-property relationships.
• Strong understanding of formulation and process engineering and scaling products from lab to manufacturing.
• Experience with scale-up, plant trials, production implementation, qualification, or manufacturing troubleshooting.
• Experience driving projects through a phase-gate, stage-gate, or similar structured development process.
• Experience preparing technical evidence packages, milestone updates, and gate-review materials.
• Experience coordinating work across technicians, manufacturing, suppliers, vendors, or other cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of coating formulation and materials development programs using NIC core technologies in a world class lab.
• Drive projects from concept through lab validation, phase-gate review, qualification, scale-up, manufacturing implementation, and early commercialization support.
• Design experimental plans to solve formulation, materials, and process challenges.
• Perform hands-on laboratory work, including formulation, application, testing, and data interpretation.
• Direct and leverage technician support for sample preparation, testing, data collection, and lab throughput.
• Build the technical body of evidence used to assess readiness for program progression.
• Help define milestones, maintain project timelines, and drive cross-functional follow-through.
• Prepare technical updates, gate-review content, and supporting documentation for development decisions.
• Partner with manufacturing and process engineering to ensure products are scalable, repeatable, and practical for production.
• Identify technical, manufacturability, quality, safety, cost, and timeline risks early and drive mitigation plans.
• Support supplier and vendor qualification, material evaluations, and commercialization activities.
• Support raw material selection, cost-performance optimization, and SDS-related technical inputs.
• Incorporate regulatory and product stewardship inputs into development planning and phase-gate progression.
• Help refine laboratory methods, development workflows, and technical best practices.

Skills

Coatings formulation

Materials development

Phase-gate development

Laboratory work

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory inputs

Education

Advanced degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or related field

Tools

FTIR

DSC

TGA

GPC/SEC

Rheology

Job description

NIC is seeking an experienced Sr. R&D Scientist to lead execution of high-performance coatings and advanced material development programs from concept through qualification, scale-up, and commercialization support.

This is a balanced hands-on and program-driving role. You will perform experimental work, direct technician-supported lab execution, and build the technical body of evidence needed to advance projects through phase-gate review.