R&D Chemist I

The Sherwin-Williams Company; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sherwin-Williams Company is seeking a Chemist I to support coating development for food-packaging applications. You will formulate, test, and evaluate coatings, conduct pack tests, and assist with scale-up and customer trials in a collaborative, data-driven environment.

Your work will apply rigorous experimental design, data analysis, and technical communication to deliver practical solutions that meet customer and business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working in a laboratory setting, including academic and industry experience
• Foundational knowledge of chemistry, polymers, materials, or coatings
• Knowledge of laboratory safety, quality, and data-integrity practices

Responsibilities

• Formulate, apply, and evaluate coatings for food-packaging applications.
• Plan and execute projects of minimal to moderate complexity with technical guidance as needed.
• Translate defined project requirements into experimental plans and technical deliverables.
• Evaluate formulation, cure, film weight, substrate, fabrication, corrosion resistance, adhesion, and pack performance.
• Use experimental-design and statistical tools to organize and analyze development work.
• Interpret data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop clear, data-supported conclusions and next steps.
• Support pack testing, pilot and customer trials, product scale-up, and technical investigations.
• Collaborate with R&D, Technical Service, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, Sales, and other cross-functional partners.
• Maintain clear and organized experimental records and communicate technical results through concise reports and presentations.

Skills

Lab experience

Data analysis

Technical communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM fields

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company's staff, employees, and business relationships.

The Chemist I will support the development and commercialization of coating technologies for the Packaging Food business. This role will formulate and evaluate coatings, execute laboratory and pack-testing programs, analyze results, and support product scale-up and customer trials.The successful candidate will apply sound scientific principles, structured experimentation, and developing technical judgment to create practical solutions that meet application, customer, and business needs.

• Formulate, apply, and evaluate coatings for food-packaging applications.
• Plan and execute projects of minimal to moderate complexity with technical guidance as needed.
• Translate defined project requirements into experimental plans and technical deliverables.
• Evaluate formulation, cure, film weight, substrate, fabrication, corrosion resistance, adhesion, and pack performance.
• Use experimental-design and statistical tools to organize and analyze development work.
• Interpret data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop clear, data-supported conclusions and next steps.
• Support pack testing, pilot and customer trials, product scale-up, and technical investigations.
• Collaborate with R&D, Technical Service, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, Sales, and other cross-functional partners.
• Maintain clear and organized experimental records and communicate technical results through concise reports and presentations.
• Use historical technical knowledge and internal systems to support project planning and problem solving.
• Build technical expertise in food-packaging applications, coating technologies, and test methods.
• Perform all laboratory work with safety, quality, and data integrity as priorities.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working in a laboratory setting, including academic and industry experience.
• Foundational knowledge of chemistry, polymers, materials, or coatings.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety, quality, and data-integrity practices.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Coursework or academic research in coatings, polymers, materials science, surface science, corrosion, or food-packaging technology.
• Experience in coatings formulation, application, or performance testing.
• Experience with food-contact coatings, packaging coatings, metal packaging, polymers, or related materials.
• Exposure to design of experiments or statistical analysis.
• Exposure to product scale-up, manufacturing support, pilot trials, commercialization, or customer trials.

TECHNICAL/SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to safely operate standard laboratory equipment and follow established test methods and procedures.
• Ability to plan and execute laboratory experiments with appropriate technical guidance.
• Ability to organize and analyze experimental data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop data-supported conclusions.
• Ability to maintain accurate laboratory records and prepare clear technical reports, summaries, and presentations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with R&D and cross-functional partners.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

10%