R&D Material Development Chemist

Rubber Group; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Rubber Group in Plymouth, Michigan, is seeking a full-time Chemist to design and test elastomer and polymer compounds. This role involves hands-on work in the lab, collaborating with manufacturing teams to resolve issues and optimize processes.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 2 years of experience in materials development, particularly with mixing and molding equipment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in materials development.
• Experience with polymer and elastomer processing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design and test elastomer and polymer compounds.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues and drive process improvements.
• Lead material development projects from formulation to production.

Skills

Hands-on experience in polymer development

Strong teamwork and communication skills

Experience with mixing, molding, or extrusion equipment

Familiarity with DOE and Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Job description

Date posted: 2026-05-21
Start date: 2026-06-01
Location: 47690 E Anchor Court, Plymouth, Michigan 48170, US
Full/Part time: Full Time

• Design, formulate, and test elastomer and polymer compounds through hands-on work with mixing, molding, and processing equipment.
• Spend significant time in the lab physically running batches, adjusting formulations, and evaluating material performance in real time.
• Partner directly with manufacturing teams to troubleshoot molding and mixing issues on the floor, driving scrap reduction and process improvements.
• Lead multiple material development projects, taking ownership from formulation through production implementation.
• Apply DOE and practical problem-solving methods to refine compounds and resolve production challenges.
• Work with suppliers to evaluate new raw materials and bring new technologies into active testing and development.
• Maintain a safe, organized lab environment and ensure accurate documentation of experiments, results, and development plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in polymer, elastomer, rubber, or materials development (strong internships/co-ops considered).
• Demonstrated experience working directly with mixing, molding, extrusion, or similar processing equipment—not just theoretical or simulation-based work.
• Comfortable working in a lab and manufacturing environment, including standing, lifting, and actively running experiments.
• Experience with formulation and compounding, with an understanding of how materials behave during processing.
• Familiarity with DOE, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving approaches.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate closely with operators, engineers, and technicians.