Principal Development Chemist

Henkel; New Jersey; On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Work-Life Balance

Financial

Family Support

Career Growth

Job summary

Henkel's Adhesive Technologies Research & Development team in Bridgewater, NJ is seeking a Principal Development Chemist to lead the development and optimization of innovative adhesives. You will design and run laboratory experiments, including synthesis, formulation, and testing, to meet critical application requirements and performance targets.

You will apply strong polymer science knowledge, manage multiple lab workstreams, and collaborate closely with manufacturing, supply chain and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. preferred or Master’s in chemistry, polymer science, materials science or related field.
• 3–5 years of lab experience in adhesives, sealants, coatings, or polymer systems.
• Strong knowledge of polymer structure–property relationships and adhesive formulation.
• Experience with organic synthesis and polyurethane/silane/acrylate formulations is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize innovative adhesives aligned with market needs and business growth priorities.
• Design and execute laboratory experiments, including synthesis, formulation, and performance testing.
• Evaluate processing behavior and bonding performance through application testing and customer simulations.
• Lead and manage laboratory workstreams with high‑quality data and documentation.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and supply chain to scale up new products.

Skills

PhD

Polymer science

Adhesives formulation

Organic synthesis

Communication skills

Education

PhD or Master’s in Chemistry/Polymer Science

Job description

Principal Development Chemist

Adhesive Technologies Research & Development United States, Bridgewater, NJ, NJ Full Time Regular

About this Position

At Henkel, you'll be part of an organization that's shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, 'all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you'll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow.

This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit - where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings.

Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel.

What you’ll do

• Develop and optimize innovative adhesives aligned with market needs and business growth priorities
• Design and execute laboratory experiments, including synthesis, formulation, and performance testing, to meet critical application requirements
• Evaluate processing behavior and bonding performance through application-relevant testing and customer simulations
• Lead and manage laboratory workstreams, ensuring high-quality data, clear documentation, and effective communication of results
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to scale up new products and support existing ones
• Partner with application engineering and commercial teams to plan and execute customer trials and validations
• Provide technical support to external customers
• Proactively drive projects forward by identifying risks, defining next steps, and ensuring efficient progression through development stages
• Ensure all work complies with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Stay current with industry trends, competitor technologies, and the IP landscape; contribute to patent generation and protection
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including lab digitalization and automation

What makes you a good fit

• Ph.D. (preferred) or master's degree in chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• 3-5 years of lab experience ideally in adhesives, sealants, coatings, or polymer systems
• Strong knowledge of polymer science, structure-property relationships, and adhesive formulation
• Experience with organic synthesis and formulation of polyurethanes, silanes, and acrylics is an advantage
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions
• Self-driven, proactive mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

Some benefits of joining Henkel

• Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program
• Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement
• Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships
• Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement

The salary range for this role is $95,000.00 and $115,000.00. This range represents the good‑faith minimum and maximum wages the Company reasonably expects to offer for this role at the time of posting. In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for incentive pay or other forms of compensation, as applicable. The Company also offers a comprehensive benefits package as described above. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, experience, education, training, and work location. This posting is intended to comply with all applicable state and local pay transparency laws.

Henkel does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Henkel property and therefore, Henkel will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral.

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Henkel is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

JOB ID: 26098753

Job Locations: United States, NJ, Bridgewater, NJ

Contact information for application-related questions: [e-mail]