R&D- Senior Chemist

Sherwin-Williams; Brecksville (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sherwin-Williams is seeking a Senior Chemist to provide technical expertise for maintaining and improving industrial wood coatings. The role collaborates with Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, Quality, and Technical Service to address technical challenges and deliver timely solutions.

The position involves leading experiments, coordinating trials, and driving product modifications while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. Occasional travel is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM or equivalent.
• 5+ years coating formulation and application experience.
• Experience leading root-cause investigations and technical issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical development for new product development and maintenance of business objectives.
• Translate customer and market needs into product concepts and requirements.
• Design and execute experiments to develop differentiated coating solutions meeting performance, cost, manufacturability, sustainability, and regulatory goals.
• Lead technical projects from concept through commercialization with scope definition and risk management.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, and Technical Services to align requirements and launches.
• Plan and support laboratory, pilot, plant, and customer trials; analyze results and drive issue resolution.
• Provide technical leadership for customer issues, product stewardship, and manufacturing support.
• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies to improve project success.
• Support IP activities through invention documentation and disclosures.
• Mentor and develop technical talent through coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Communicate findings and project status to stakeholders and leadership.
• Maintain safe, compliant lab environment per safety standards.

Skills

Coating formulation

Root cause investigations

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Laboratory experimentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's or PhD preferred

Job description

Job Description

Senior Chemist provides technical expertise and leadership in support of maintenance of business activities for the Industrial Wood Maintenance of Business team. Reporting to the Technical Manager, this role is responsible for sustaining existing products, resolving customer and manufacturing issues, supporting business continuity, and ensuring reliable product performance. The Senior Chemist partners closely with Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, Quality, Technical Service, Supply Chain, and customers to address technical challenges, execute product modifications, support operational needs, and deliver timely solutions that maintain customer satisfaction and business objectives.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access to 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.

This role is not remote/hybrid. This role will report to Sherwin-Williams Morikis Global Technology Center located at 6745 Miller Road, Brecksville, OH 44141.

15% Travel

Responsibilities

• Lead technical development activities supporting new product development, commercialization, and maintenance of business objectives.
• Translate customer, market, and business needs into product concepts, technical requirements, and development strategies.
• Design and execute experiments to develop differentiated coating solutions that meet performance, cost, manufacturability, sustainability, and regulatory objectives.
• Lead technical projects from concept through commercialization, including scope definition, risk management, testing, and execution.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Technical Services, and customers to align product requirements and launch activities.
• Plan and support laboratory, pilot, plant, and customer trials; analyze results and drive resolution of technical challenges.
• Provide technical leadership for customer issues, product stewardship, manufacturing support, and continuous product improvement.
• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies to improve project success and commercial readiness.
• Support intellectual property activities through invention documentation, patent review, and invention disclosures.
• Mentor and develop technical talent through coaching, technical guidance, and knowledge sharing.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, and project status to stakeholders and leadership.
• Maintain a safe and effective laboratory environment through adherence to company safety standards and operating procedures.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the country for which you are applying for employment (without now or in the future needing sponsorship for employment work visa and/or permanent residence status)
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have a bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics ("STEM") field
• 5+ years of experience in coating formulation and application
• Experience resolving technical issues and leading root cause investigations

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Polymers and Coatings
• Masters or Ph.D.
• Experience in industrial or OEM coating formulation
• Experience supporting commercialized products in a manufacturing and customer-facing environment
• Experience working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Technical Service teams
• Experience on customer application lines (e.g., curtain coaters, vacuum coaters, roll coaters, and other OEM application equipment)
• Familiarity with DFSS, Lean Six Sigma, Kepner-Tregoe, or other structured problem-solving methodologies
• At least one year in mentoring or management experience
• Internship, co-op, or research experience supporting manufacturing or product development activities

Successful candidate will be required to sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.

About Us

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

Life ... with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being

Career ... with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution

Connection ... with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities

It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute—it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at http://www.myswbenefits.com/ view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-WWilliams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.