R&D Chemist

Itape; Marysville, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Itape in Michigan seeks an R&D Chemist to lead development from customer needs to market-ready solutions. You will work with Marketing and Product Management to identify opportunities and design products that meet performance goals at competitive costs.

You will apply DOE and statistical analysis, manage lab and pilot activities, and coordinate with Production to scale designs. Travel to customer sites and IPG facilities is expected as projects advance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a Science or Engineering discipline.
• 2-4 years' experience in Research & Development.
• Proven project leader with high success rate.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of DOE principles and statistical analysis software.
• Proficient in MS Office suite; Smartsheet experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify customer needs and translate them into product solutions.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Product Management to explore opportunities.
• Use QFD, VOC or New Product Blueprinting for design factors.
• Develop innovative product designs using lab and pilot facilities; translate to production.
• Ensure end-use application fit and transfer to production.
• Document results and communicate to executives; support safety programs.
• Travel to customers' facilities as needed to support development.

Skills

R&D experience

Project leadership

Problem solving

Collaboration

MS Office

Smartsheet

DOE principles

Statistical analysis

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

Position Description

Title: R&D Chemist

Department: R&D

Reports to: R&D Director

Status: Salaried Exempt

Principle Accountabilities

• The New Product Development (NPD) responsibilities begin and end with the customer. The R&D Chemist is charged with accurately and precisely identifying any all customer needs that are not being met. It is then their responsibility to use that knowledge to design a product solution which fully meets those needs, while at the same time differentiating and elevating the performance of the product solution at a competitive cost.
• Work with the Marketing and Product Management group in a formalized process to identify, fully explore and document new product opportunities. Contribute to the development of the overall business case for the new product opportunity.
• Utilize QFD, VOC or New Product Blueprinting in the process of determining the performance factors, physical properties, physical appearances, and intangible qualities that will be designed into new products or product groups.
• Deliver solutions which exceed our customer’s requirements at a competitive cost in an acceptable time frame.
• Develop the innovative product design using extensive lab and pilot facilities. Work with the operations group to translate the design into a commercially viable process.
• Ensures that all products designed meet the end-use application needs of the intended customers.
• Ensures that all information via the new product commercialization meeting is provided to Production, QC, Scheduling, Purchasing, Product Management and Marketing once the project is complete.
• Follows new products into the field, works with Technical Service and Sales to gain customer acceptance and helps uncover any product deficiencies.
• Travels to customers’ facilities to support new product development and product improvement efforts.
• Utilize excellent project management skills during the entire new product development Representative activities would include the preparation and maintenance of tracking tools such as Smartsheet or Gantt charts to determine and monitor the development time and required resources to create a new structure.
• Assigns, oversees and reviews the experimental work performed by team members.
• Writes clear, concise interpretive reports and memos with executive summaries using report writing format which is provided and assigns each report a unique document number for inclusion into an electronic database and a hard-copy library.
• Actively supports all Safety programs and initiatives and 5S housekeeping programs.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a Science or Engineering discipline.
• 2-4 years' experience in Research & Development
• Proven project leader with high success rate
• Innovative, organized self-starter with good problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative interpersonal style with experience in leading project teams.
• Proficient in MS Office suite of software, working knowledge of Smartsheet or other project planning software.
• Knowledge of DOE principles and statistical analysis software.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Capable of writing reports for distribution at the Executive level. Comfortable presenting results and project updates to team members, executives and customers.
• Demonstrated customer focus and commitment to Company values.
• Demonstrated capability to manage time without consistent day to day interaction with supervisor
• Ability to travel ~ 25% to visit IPG plants, IPG HQ, and customer and supplier locations.