Plant Chemist

Press-Seal-Corporatio; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Press-Seal-Corporatio in Fort Wayne, IN seeks a Plant Chemist for a full-time on-site position. The role focuses on rubber compound design and material development to support gasket products.

The candidate will lead R&D efforts, manage lab equipment, and collaborate with QA, engineering, and production teams to meet internal and external requirements. Strong rubber processing experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Polymer Science.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in rubber processing (mixing, calendaring, extrusion).
• Experience with rubber compounds development for EPDM, isoprene, neoprene, nitrile.
• Analytical DOE methods for rubber compound development.
• Experience with Mooney viscometer, rheometer, tensiometers, lab mixer, lab mill, cure press, densometer.
• Familiarity with database systems (DAISY, SCADA, PLM).
• LEAN Manufacturing and Six Sigma knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop rubber compounds for engineered rubber gasket products.
• Provide technical solutions through material development.
• Support process and product teams in mixing, calendaring, extrusion, and curing.
• Develop compound formulas and interface with QA, engineering, and production.
• Lead R&D efforts for new and improved rubber compounds.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost-reduction projects.
• Interface with supply chain to evaluate materials.
• Collaborate with Rubber Mixing team on material evaluation.
• Work with product engineering on extrusion and calendaring trials.
• Support QA in analyzing product returns for rubber compatibility issues.
• Manage raw material specification database.
• Manage and operate analytical lab equipment.

Skills

Rubber formulation experience

Project management

Organizational skills

LEAN Manufacturing knowledge

Six Sigma knowledge

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Polymer Science

Minimum 5 years rubber processing experience

Non-degreed with experience in compound rubber

Tools

Mooney Viscometer

Rheometer

Tensiometers

Lab Mixer

Lab Mill

Cure Press

Densometer

DAISY

SCADA

PLM

Job description

Description

Plant Chemist

This position is Fort Wayne, IN and will be a full-time on-site position

Position

The Plant Chemist is a full-time on-site position in Fort Wayne, IN.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 1. Design and develop rubber compounds for use in engineered rubber gasket products utilizing modern injection and compression molding presses.
• 2. Provide technical solutions to customer needs through material development.
• 3. Support process and product teams in mixing, calendaring, extrusion, and curing for industrial products.
• 4. Develop compound formulas and manage the systems which interfaces with quality, engineering, and production to ensure materials’ performance meets internal and external customers’ requirements.
• 5. Lead R&D efforts for new and improved rubber compounds for products and processes.
• 6. Lead continuous improvement and cost reduction projects focused on productivity and cost reduction.
• 7. Interface with supply chain to evaluate new and alternative materials.
• 8. Interface with Rubber Mixing team in material and compound evaluation as it pertains to daily operations and efficiency projects.
• 9. Interface with product engineering in rubber extrusion and calendaring trails for product development and improvements.
• 10. Support quality assurance in analyzing product returns for rubber compatibility issues.
• 11. Manage raw material specification database for internal and external customers.
• 12. Manager and operate analytical lab equipment.
• 13. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 1. Rubber formulation experience with EPDM, Isoprene, Chloroprene (neoprene) Nitrile.
• 2. Experience with analytical and statistical DOE methods for rubber compound development.
• 3. Analytical experience with Mooney Viscometer, Rheometer, Tensiometers, Lab Mixer, Lab Mill, Cure Press, Densometer.
• 4. Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• 5. Familiarity with database systems such as DAISY, SCADA, or PLM.
• 6. MS Office tools.
• 7. Experience with LEAN Manufacturing and 6 Sigma tools a plus.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• 1. Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Polymer Science.
• 2. Minimum 5 years of experience in rubber processing such as mixing, calendaring, and extrusion; will accept non-degreed with experience in compound rubber.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Basic sitting, standing, bending & minor lifting up to 20lbs.