Lead Scientist, Formulation

Entegris, Inc.; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 124,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous 401(K) with employer match

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible work schedule

PTO

Education assistance

Equal opportunity employer

Safety-first culture

Travel up to 10%

Job summary

Entegris, Inc. is seeking a Lead Scientist, Formulation to join our Formulated Solutions R&D group in the Materials Solutions business.

The role is based in our facility and focuses on CMP/pCMP formulation challenges, experimental design, and translating structure–performance relationships into differentiated products. The ideal candidate will possess a PhD (or equivalent) with 5+ years of related experience, strong skills in DOE and stats, and experience in CMP slurry development, process

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with extensive CMP-related experience and publication track record.
• Hands-on experience in CMP slurry and pCMP formulations and process development.
• Strong knowledge of surface science, corrosion control, and residue removal.
• Proficiency in statistics for DOE and robust screening.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical projects, define experimental strategies, and translate structure–performance relationships into products.
• Design and execute robust DOE experiments; analyze data to guide decisions.
• Mentor scientists, engineers, and technicians; promote rigorous lab practices.
• Collaborate with customers and internal teams to support technology transfer and scale-up.
• Drive IP creation through invention disclosures and documentation.

Skills

CMP slurry development

pCMP cleaning development

DOE / multivariate analysis

statistical modeling

data interpretation

AI tools familiarity

Electrochemistry basics

leadership / mentorship

Education

PhD in Chemistry or related field

Master’s degree with 7+ years relevant experience

Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years relevant experience

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Job description

Lead Scientist, Formulation

Entegris is currently seeking a Lead Scientist, Formulation to join our Formulated Solutions (FS) R&D group in the Technology & Innovation organization within our Materials Solutions (MS) Business. This position will be based in our facility. In this role, you will apply broad technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of CMP and pCMP mechanisms to solve complex customer and product-development challenges. You will lead critical project deliverables, define experimental strategies, and translate structure-performance relationships into differentiated products and process solutions.

What You’ll Do

Technical Innovation & Product Development

Establish structure-property-performance relationships involving abrasive particles, oxidizers, inhibitors, complexing agents, polymers, surfactants, dispersants, and cleaning additives. Develop mechanistic understanding of material removal, selectivity, defectivity, corrosion, residue removal, particle removal, surface modification and formulation stability. Design and direct statistically robust experiments, including DOE and multivariate analysis, and integrate wafer, coupon, analytical, and formulation data to guide development decisions. Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for complex slurry, cleaning, process, equipment, scale-up, and customer-performance issues.

Product Commercialization & Customer Success

Partner with Cleanroom Engineering teams to design and execute CMP and pCMP evaluations on relevant films, substrates, test wafers, and patterned wafers. Work with CSDs (Chief Solutions Designers) to put together technical packages for discussions with external customers during TRMs (Technical Review Meetings) Support raw-material selection, formulation robustness, scale-up, technology transfer, product qualification, and New Product Introduction. Drive intellectual property creation through filing of invention disclosures, patent filing support, detailed technical documentation, and protection of proprietary know-how via trade secrets.

Technical Leadership & Operational Excellence

Provide technical mentorship to scientists, engineers, and technicians and help establish best practices for experimental rigor, data quality, and laboratory execution. Build productive global networks and influence technical direction across teams without relying on direct authority. Maintain exemplary EHS, chemical-handling, quality, and documentation practices and actively strengthen a safety-first culture.

Travel up to 10%, including customer sites and global technology or manufacturing locations, based on business needs.

What We Seek

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Surface Science, or a related field with a minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience; OR a Master’s degree with a minimum of 7+ years of relevant experience; OR a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 9+ years of relevant experience; equivalent education and experience may be considered.

Demonstrated hands‑on experience in CMP slurry development, pCMP cleaning development, CMP process development, Wet Etch Formulations or closely related semiconductor surface‑processing technology. Thinking out of the box and being innovative to understand novel concepts in surface chemistry, colloid and interfacial science, particle behavior under polishing, chemical‑mechanical interactions, corrosion control, residue removal, and defect mechanisms; All the while maintaining high standards of Safety & integrity. Working knowledge of Electrochemistry to identify influence of slurry / pCMP cleaning components in minimizing or eliminating corrosion on metal layers. Proficient with statistical analysis tools like JMP / Minitab to develop robust screening DOEs and develop predictive models to define stable design space for formulations, while meeting customer requirements. Basic knowledge of latest AI tools and comfortable using in‑house AI agents for speeding up innovation cycles. Experience connecting formulation composition and process conditions to removal rate, selectivity, defects, surface quality, cleaning efficiency, and product robustness. Experience with semiconductor materials such as metals, dielectrics, barrier or liner films, and advanced interconnect materials are preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technically complex information in English to global teams and customers. Strong commitment to laboratory safety, data integrity, intellectual property protection, and disciplined technical documentation.

Why Work at Entegris Lead.

Lead. Inspire. Innovate. Define Your Future. Not everyone who works for a global company shares the same background, experiences and perspectives. We leverage the differences of our employees to bring new ideas to the table. Every employee throughout the company is encouraged to share input on projects and initiatives. Our decision‑making process is truly a collaborative effort as we realize there are leaders at every level of the organization. We put our values at the core of how we operate as an organization — not just when it’s convenient, but in a lasting and meaningful way. We want the time and energy you spend here to have a positive impact on your life inside and outside of the office.

What We Offer

• Generous 401(K) plan with an impressive employer match
• Compensation: $124,000-$150,000 per year range with actual pay dependent on candidate overall skills for the role
• Excellent health, dental and vision insurance packages to fit your needs
• Flexible work schedule and 11 paid holidays a year
• Paid time off (PTO) policy that empowers you to take the time you need to recharge
• Education assistance to support your learning journey
• Values-driven culture with colleagues that rally around People, Accountability, Creativity and Excellence
• Entegris does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need Entegris immigration sponsorship (e.g., H1B, TN, STEM OPT, etc.) now or in the future.
• At Entegris we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants. Our policy is to recruit, hire, train, and reward employees for their individual abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital or military status.
• At Entegris, we want you to be part of our culture, which values your unique talents, skills, and experiences. We believe what we do is as important as how we do it. People at our company bring their true selves to work, and are appreciated not only for what they do, but for who they are. This plus the technical complexity of our products and solutions means you can be sure your work is both challenging and changing the world for the better.

Learn more about why people enjoy working at Entegris.