Lead Development Chemist - Battery Separator Materials

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

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.