R&D Engineer/Scientist

AdvanSix; Chesterfield Court House (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 142,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

401K with company match

Paid holidays & PTO

Medical, dental & vision insurance

Stock purchase eligibility

Job summary

AdvanSix, based in the United States, is seeking a Nylon Lead R&D Scientist to drive polymer chemistry innovation and scalable process technology for nylon (polyamide) systems. This role focuses on translating molecular understanding into robust, cost-competitive manufacturing solutions and accelerating research cycles through AI-enabled experimentation.

You will lead cross-functional teams, mentor scientists, and contribute to IP development while advancing new nylon materials from concept to

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Polymer Science/Engineering with 5+ years in polymer R&D.
• Strong expertise in polyamide synthesis, processing, and commercialization of new materials.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and projects in an industrial setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of polyamide synthesis and polymerization.
• Translate lab discoveries to pilot and commercial-scale processes.
• Apply AI-enabled experimentation and advanced analytics to accelerate development.
• Drive new product development and commercialization aligned with business strategy.
• Mentor scientists and engineers; contribute to IP development.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Polyamide systems

Process development

Scale-up

Analytical techniques

AI/ML in R&D

DOE & Six Sigma

Project leadership

Education

Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry

Master's in Polymer Science or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Rheology

DSC

GPC

NMR

IR

Job description

AdvanSix plays a critical role in global supply chains, innovating and delivering essential products for our customers in a wide variety of end markets and applications that touch people’s lives, such as building and construction, fertilizers, plastics, solvents, packaging, paints, coatings, adhesives, and electronics. Our reliable and sustainable supply of quality products emerges from the vertically integrated value chain of our three U.S. based manufacturing facilities. AdvanSix strives to deliver best-in-class customer experiences and differentiated products in the industries of nylon solutions, chemical intermediates, and plant nutrients, guided by our core values of Safety, Integrity, Accountability and Respect.

Please view a short video about our company here, AdvanSix Video. For more information on AdvanSix, please visit our website at http://www.advansix.com

Why work at AdvanSix?

• We provide benefits that are industry competitive and focused on employee well-being
• Total Rewards program includes a competitive compensation, health, dental, vision & wellness programs, paid vacation, 401K with company matching, health savings programs, disability & life insurance, employee assistance program
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education, certifications, training, and development
• Work within a fast paced and innovative company, meeting passionate colleagues and partners with diverse backgrounds and experiences

Position Summary

The Nylon Lead R&D Scientist serves as a technical leader driving polymer chemistry innovation and process technology advancement for nylon (polyamide) systems. This role is responsible for developing deep molecular-level understanding and translating it into robust, scalable process solutions that improve manufacturing performance, product quality, and cost competitiveness.

Secondary responsibilities include new product development (NPD) and commercialization aligned with business strategy, with a strong emphasis on accelerating research cycles through advanced data analytics and AI-enabled experimentation.

Core Responsibilities

1. Polymer Chemistry Leadership (Primary Focus)

• Lead design and execution of polyamide synthesis reactions, including batch and continuous polymerization systems.
• Develop deep understanding of structure–property relationships to tailor polymer performance for target applications.
• Apply advanced analytical techniques (e.g., rheology, DSC, GPC, IR, NMR) to characterize materials and guide decision-making.
• Drive innovation in polymer modification, copolymerization, and additive incorporation to enable differentiated products.
• Serve as subject matter expert in polyamide chemistry, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry across the organization.

2. Process Technology & Scale-Up (Primary Focus)

• Lead development and optimization of polymerization and downstream processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, molding).
• Translate laboratory discoveries into pilot and commercial-scale processes, ensuring consistency, yield, and cost efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership in process modeling, troubleshooting, and process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with plant, engineering, and production teams to:
• Improve conversion efficiency, throughput, and energy intensity
• Resolve process limitations and variability
• Enable reliable and repeatable manufacturing performance
• Apply statistical tools (Six Sigma, DOE) to drive process robustness and variability reduction.

3. AI-Enabled Experimental Design & Research Acceleration (Key Differentiator)

• Leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools to:
• Design optimized Designs of Experiments (DOE)
• Identify critical variables and interactions faster than traditional approaches
• Predict polymer properties and process outcomes
• Develop and deploy data-driven experimentation frameworks to reduce research cycle time and increase success rates.
• Integrate experimental data, process data, and analytical results into predictive models that guide decision-making.
• Continuously improve R&D efficiency through:
• Automated data analysis workflows
• Digital lab tools and experiment tracking systems
• Demonstrated history of using advanced analytics or AI methods to accelerate root cause analysis and experimental iteration cycles (aligned with structured DOE approaches observed internally).

4. New Product Development & Commercialization (Secondary Focus)

• Lead development of new nylon materials and applications, from concept through commercialization.
• Partner with marketing, commercial, and customer teams to translate voice-of-customer (VOC) into technical solutions.
• Feasibility studies
• Pilot validation
• Scale-up and commercialization
• Deliver differentiated products aligned with market needs and profitability targets.

5. Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead cross-functional teams across R&D, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, and Commercial organizations.
• Mentor and develop scientists and engineers in polymer science and process technology disciplines.
• Serve as a technical advisor for complex problem solving, including customer issues and plant challenges.
• Contribute to intellectual property development, including patents and trade secrets.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. (preferred) or Master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in polymer R&D, with emphasis on polyamide (nylon) systems.
• Demonstrated experience in:
• Polymer synthesis and characterization
• Process development and scale-up
• Commercialization of new materials

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise in polyamide chemistry and polymerization processes.
• Experience with polymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, molding).
• Proven track record of leading successful R&D projects and delivering commercial outcomes.
• Experience integrating AI/ML, advanced analytics, or digital tools into R&D workflows.
• Six Sigma or statistical modeling experience for DOE and process optimization.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with ability to influence stakeholders.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Lead with polymer chemistry depth and process technology rigor
• Translate science into scalable, reliable manufacturing solutions
• Use AI-driven experimentation to accelerate innovation cycles
• Deliver measurable business impact through both process improvements and new product commercialization

The base salary range for this role is: $95,000 to $142,600 annually.

We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include periodic pay rate adjustments based on market competitiveness. Hired applicants will be eligible for paid holidays, paid time off including vacation, eligibility to purchase company stock, tuition reimbursement, and a 401K with a competitive company match. Certain roles may be eligible for discretionary financial benefits such as incentive pay, equity awards, and participation in a deferred compensation plan.

Hired applicants will be eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings account eligibility, employer-provided short term disability benefits, eligibility to purchase long term disability benefits, employer-provided basic life insurance and eligibility to purchase voluntary life coverages.

The pay range, incentives and benefits listed above are general guidelines only and not a guarantee of total compensation or benefits. The final offer will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to, the responsibilities of the job, experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as the job location, applicability of a collective bargaining agreement, length of service, internal equity, and alignment with market data. The incentive pay is dependent on your role, business results and individual performance. All aspects of total rewards offered are subject to the terms and conditions of the specific plans.

At AdvanSix, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past work experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to still apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

AdvanSix is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, religion, veteran status, or any other protected classification.