Polymer Materials Scientist: R&D & Scale-Up

Leidos Inc; Rockaway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 59,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Income Protection

Paid Leave

Retirement

Job summary

Leidos’ Defense Sector at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, seeks a Synthetic Chemist to design, synthesize, and scale up advanced polymer materials. You will bridge R&D and production, developing polymers and functional binders, and translating bench-scale work toward pilot-scale manufacturing.

You will apply analytical techniques such as GPC, DSC, FTIR, NMR, and rheology to characterize materials, document findings, and contribute to technical proposals. US citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Organic or Polymer Chemistry, with 2-6 years of relevant experience in an industrial R&D or manufacturing environment.
• Experience in organic and/or polymer synthesis (e.g., free radical, condensation, ring-opening polymerization) or advanced materials development.
• Hands-on experience with analytical and physical characterization methods for polymers and organic molecules, including chromatographic (HPLC, GPC) and spectroscopic (NMR, FTIR) techniques.
• Strong research mindset with a proven ability to design experiments, troubleshoot synthetic pathways, and document findings systematically.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary, team-based environment
• US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute novel synthetic approaches to develop new materials, with a particular focus on polymers, macromolecules, and functional binders.
• Conduct process optimization, formulation, and scale-up studies to transition bench-scale polymer and material synthesis into pilot-scale or large-scale production.
• Perform ongoing literature searches and patent reviews to maintain deep awareness of the latest industrial ingredients, polymerization processes, and material science techniques.
• Develop alternate, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable methods for the synthesis and processing of existing materials.
• Characterize polymers and synthetic materials utilizing state-of-the-art analytical, physical, and mechanical testing techniques (e.g., GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, FTIR, NMR, and rheology).
• Translate research into actionable data by preparing technical reports, standard operating procedures (SOPs), publications, and presentations.
• Formulate novel research ideas and actively contribute to technical proposals for future R&D initiatives.

Job description

Leidos’ Defense Sector at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, seeks a Synthetic Chemist to design, synthesize, and scale up advanced polymer materials. You will bridge R&D and production, developing polymers and functional binders, and translating bench-scale work toward pilot-scale manufacturing.

You will apply analytical techniques such as GPC, DSC, FTIR, NMR, and rheology to characterize materials, document findings, and contribute to technical proposals. US citizenship is required.