Principal Development Chemist- Construction Adhesives

Henkel; Bridgewater (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Work-Life Balance

Financial: 401k matching and bonus

Job summary

Henkel is seeking a talented chemist to join the Adhesive Technologies team in Massachusetts. You will develop and optimize adhesives, lead lab workstreams, and collaborate across manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and commercial groups to bring new products to market.

The role requires 3–5 years of lab experience in adhesives or related polymers, and a PhD or Master’s in a relevant field. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are essential for success in this dynamic setting.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of lab experience in adhesives, sealants, coatings, or polymer systems.
• PhD (preferred) or master's degree in chemistry, polymer science, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• 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 and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize innovative adhesives aligned with market needs and growth priorities.
• Design and execute laboratory experiments including synthesis, formulation, and performance testing.
• Evaluate processing behavior and bonding performance through testing and customer simulations.
• Lead and manage lab workstreams with high-quality data and clear reporting of results.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, application engineering and commercial teams to scale up products.
• Provide technical support to external customers and drive project progression.
• Ensure safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Support lab digitalization and automation initiatives.

Skills

Communication skills

Multitasking

Collaboration

Self-driven

Education

PhD or Master's in Chemistry/Polymer Science/Materials Science/Chemical Engineering

Job description

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