Lead Rubber Compound R&D Chemist – On-site Fort Wayne

Press-Seal Corporation; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Press-Seal Corporation in Fort Wayne, IN seeks a Plant Chemist for an on-site, full-time position. The role focuses on designing and developing rubber compounds for gasket products, using advanced presses and coordinating with QA, engineering, and production teams.

The candidate will lead R&D efforts, drive process improvements, and interface with supply chain on material evaluation. A background in rubber formulation and DOE methods is required, with at least five years in rubber processing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or polymer science.
• Minimum 5 years of rubber processing experience (mixing, calendaring, extrusion); non-degreed acceptable with relevant experience.
• Experience with DOE methods for rubber compounds.
• Familiarity with analytical lab instrumentation and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop rubber compounds for engineered gasket products using modern presses.
• Provide technical solutions through material development.
• Support mixing, calendaring, extrusion, and curing processes.
• Develop compound formulas; interface with quality, engineering, and production.
• Lead R&D efforts for new/improved rubber compounds and processes.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost-reduction projects.
• Interface with supply chain on material evaluation.

Skills

Rubber formulation

DOE methods

Project management

LEAN Manufacturing

Six Sigma

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Engineering/Polymer Science

5+ years rubber processing experience

Tools

Mooney Viscometer

Rheometer

Tensiometers

Lab Mixer

Lab Mill

Cure Press

Densometer

Job description

Press-Seal Corporation in Fort Wayne, IN seeks a Plant Chemist for an on-site, full-time position. The role focuses on designing and developing rubber compounds for gasket products, using advanced presses and coordinating with QA, engineering, and production teams.

The candidate will lead R&D efforts, drive process improvements, and interface with supply chain on material evaluation. A background in rubber formulation and DOE methods is required, with at least five years in rubber processing.