R&D Professional, Milliken Research Operations

Milliken & Company; Hilltop (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Milliken & Company is seeking an R&D Professional for Milliken Research Operations in Spartanburg, SC. The role blends hands-on analytical chemistry with leadership, applying GC/LC/MS/HRAM to solve material and chemistry problems and guide analytical strategy across multiple platforms.

Internal expert in chromatography, mass spectrometry, and data interpretation, you will partner with product development, manufacturing, regulatory, and business teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with relevant lab experience or higher.
• Advanced proficiency with chromatographic separations and HRAM analyses.
• Ability to develop, troubleshoot, and validate analytical methods.

Responsibilities

• Use GC/LC/MS/HRAM and related techniques to explain product performance, failures, or changes.
• Own GC, LC, MS instruments and HRAM workflows including maintenance and data quality.
• Define measurements, develop analytical strategies from first principles, lead technical discussions and testing programs.
• Solve challenges across diverse platforms and communicate results in reports and presentations.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

First-principles analysis

Data interpretation

Technical leadership

Presentations

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety compliance

Problem solving

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's + 4 years

Master's + 2 years

PhD in Analytical Chemistry

Tools

GC

LC

MS

HRAM

Job description

R&D Professional, Milliken Research Operations

United States, South Carolina, Spartanburg

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leaderwhose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow's breakthroughs today. Fromindustry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products thatenhance people's lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken's curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagramand LinkedIn.

POSITION TITLE

R&D Professional, Milliken Research Operations

POSITION OVERVIEW

Internal analytical leader within Research Operations Analytical group, partnering across business units and chemistry platforms to solve material and chemistry problems and define appropriate analytical strategies. Practical analytical scientist with deep hands-on chromatography and mass spectrometry expertise, functional/scientific instrument understanding, independent troubleshooting ability, curiosity to learn complementary techniques, and interest in future technical or organizational leadership. Supports polymers, chemicals, materials, and emerging technologies. Position located at corporate headquarters in Spartanburg, SC; typical hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use chemical and materials science principles, GC/LC/MS/HRAM, and complementary techniques to determine why products perform, fail, or change and recommend actionable solutions.
• Own GC, LC, and MS instruments and HRAM workflows, including readiness, documentation, queue discipline, data quality, method stewardship, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair coordination, and capability development.
• Define critical measurements, develop first-principles analytical strategies when the correct approach is not known, lead technical discussions, and establish testing programs.
• Solve R&D, raw material, quality, regulatory, and high-throughput analytical challenges across diverse platforms.
• Identify unknowns, monitor reactions, quantify knowns, and characterize materials from small molecules to high molecular weight polymers.
• Develop, optimize, validate, transfer, maintain, and troubleshoot sample preparation, chromatography, MS, interpretation, and reporting methods using hypothesis-driven root-cause analysis.
• Manage workstreams from sample intake through analysis, interpretation, reporting, follow-up communication, and technical recommendations.
• Partner with product development, manufacturing, regulatory, research, and business teams; communicate results in reports, tables, charts, presentations, and project discussions.
• Learn, support, and help establish complementary capabilities including separations, wet chemistry, elemental analysis, spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis, and physical testing.
• Comply with all safety requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree plus 4 years' experience, Master's degree plus 2 years' experience, or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry or related technical field.
• Demonstrated hands-on proficiency with chromatographic separations and mass spectrometry, including GC, LC, column selection, mobile phase design, sample preparation, method development/optimization, troubleshooting, repairs, instrument function, and HRAM analyses.
• Proven ability to develop, troubleshoot, validate, document, transfer, maintain, and steward analytical methods.
• Ability to operate effectively when the correct analytical approach is not known and analytical strategy must be developed from first principles.
• Demonstrated ability to assess data quality, recognize technique limitations, and determine when conclusions are sufficiently supported for technical or business decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction, mentor others, communicate across organizational levels, and/or lead when required.
• Hands-on chemical laboratory experience, including safe handling, documentation, equipment operation, and safety compliance.
• Self-motivated ability to learn complementary techniques and establish, transfer, or sustain capabilities as business or staffing needs require.
• Scientific judgment to balance strategy, rigor, speed, and cost.
• Curiosity, initiative, thoughtful questioning, creative problem solving, and effective use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Clear technical, written, and presentation communication.
• This position requires candidates to be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship for a work visa (e.g., H-1B, TN, etc.).

The successful candidate will have strengths in the following:

• Familiarity with complementary analytical techniques and adjacent methods that strengthen GC/LC/MS capabilities.
• Leadership potential with long-term interest in people management.
• Ability to apply data analytics or statistics to analytical chemistry problems.
• Ability to manage technical workstreams, mentor others, and support cross-training across analytical capabilities.

#LI-AP1

Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].