R&D Surface/Coatings Team Lead

Tribonet; Kennesaw, Northern (GA, KY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA/HRA)

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation

Job summary

Novelis, located in Kennesaw, GA, seeks a Surface/Coatings Team Lead to manage the competency cluster within the R&D group. The role combines fundamental research with applied development, advancing aluminum sheet surface performance for automotive, packaging and specialty applications.

The candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team, mentor researchers, and drive project portfolios using Stage-Gate methodologies, while collaborating across Metallurgy, Forming, and Customer Support to

Qualifications

• BSc or higher in metallurgy/materials science/engineering required.
• PhD preferred in Metallurgical Engineering or related field.
• 7–10 years in industrial R&D with leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Surfaces/Coatings cluster to perform fundamental and applied surface science research.
• Oversee projects portfolio and manage resources using Stage-Gate process.
• Provide technical leadership in surface chemistry, mechanics, tribology and interface phenomena.
• Develop competency roadmap linked to technology roadmap and innovate in surface modification.
• Create IP for new products and processes and collaborate with external partners.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Surface science

Tribology

Materials engineering

Communication

Mentoring

Education

BSc in Metallurgy/Materials science or engineering

PhD in Metallurgical Engineering / Materials Science & Engineering / Chemical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

SEM/EDS

XPS

TEM

FTIR

ToF-SIMS

XRF

OES

AFM

SKP

Job description

An educational platform on tribology — the science of friction, wear and lubrication

Who is it for

Engineers, researchers, students and industry professionals

Role Overview

The Surface s /Coatings Team lead will manage the Surface s/Coatings competency cluster in the Product and Process Technology group as part of the Novelis R&D Americas organization located in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Team L ead is responsible f or delivering S urfaces / C oatings project portfolio and managing technical resource s while executing fundamental research as well as leading projects in product and process innovation. In addition to managing the scientist and engineers in the cluster , t he candidate should have strong fundamental understandi ng and hands‑on experience in characterization of physical, chemical, an d mechanical properties of surface s of aluminum sheet product s , and sheet metal products and processing technologies . Th is role also requires experience in surface functionalization methods , tribology, surface treatment, coatings, surface texturing on aluminum sheet metal surfaces .

In addition to the Surface/Coatings , the Team lead will work closely with other comp etency clusters of R&D Engineers and Scientists in Metallurgy, Forming, Corrosion, Joining, and Customer/Plant Support to solve challenging problems across all Novelis value streams (can, auto, aerospace, and specialties) and develop a deeper core knowledge . Opportunities exist to interface with external customers and partners, travel to Novelis sites and disseminate findings in peer‑reviewed journals and at international conferences . Applicants should be able to deliver on‑time results in a fast‑paced research and development environment .

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Surfaces / Coatings cluster to perform fundamental and applied surface science research to develop new products and processes by improving the surface performance of Novelis aluminum sheet products for Automotive, P ackaging and Specialties applications . D evelop talent , t rain and mentor team members and other scientists and engineers within the organization for their career growth in Novelis.
• Oversee the portfolio of projects in Surface /Coatings cluster to deliver against targets managing the available resources including SPC. Provide project management support and training to team members to execute projects. Utilize Stage‑Gate process to manage R&D portfolio and mentor the use of appropriate project management tools .
• Provide technical leadership in surface chemistry, mechanics , tribology and understanding of interface phenomena to support product and process development projects with Novelis operations or customers. D evelop scientific understanding and technical competencies in surface science s relevant to aluminum sheet products .
• Develop competency/capability roadmap for the Surfaces & Coatings cluster that is linked to value stream GTD technology roadmap . Innovate in Surfaces & Coatings , such as new polymer coatings, new pretr eat ment , and surface modi fication by l aser processing . L ead development and deployment of advanced surface characterization techniques .
• Provide consulting expertise to scientists, engineers, and project managers in innovation projects of Automotive, Beverage packaging and Specialty programs .
• Create intellectual property for new products, processes, and techniques to maintain competitive advantage of Novelis in aluminum industry.
• Support initiatives for development of external partnerships with research institutions, universities, and industry consortia to identify , develop and capture emerging technologies in surface & interface science , and texturing and functionalization of wide range of materials .

Minimum Qualifications

• BSc in M etallurgy, M aterials science/engineering, or similar required . A strong background in surface/ microstructure / property relationships is essential. PhD in Metallurgical Engineering, M aterials Science & E ngineering , Chemical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field is preferred.
• 7 to 10 years relevant work experience in industrial R&D labs or national labs in partnership with industry . Proven track record of leading multifunctional teams in a matrix organization and successful delivery in Surfaces /Coatings & Interface Science from laboratory to full production.
• 3 to 5 years people leadership experience with good business understanding . Knows the business and the mission‑critical technical and functional skills needed to do the job; understands various types of business propositions and understands how businesses operate in general; learns new methods and technologies easily.
• Ability to plan and execute R&D projects, including management of budgets and resource requirements and effective regular reporting at senior technology and business levels. Innovation and portfolio management and leadership experience in an R&D setting with demonstration of good project management and technical communication skills.
• Proven track record of innovation s with intellectual property merit at conceptual level and able to explain to internal customers including plants, technical staff, and other business segments.
• Experience in surface , microstructure characterization and measurement techniques by using SEM/EDS, XPS, TEM, FTIR, ToF – SIMS, XR F , OES, AFM, SKP, etc.
• Work independently and within teams. Conduct clear and concise communication with c ross-functional teams, customer solution centers, plants, customers, and s enior leadership with periodic updates, written reports, and technical meetings.
• International outlook and desire to travel to othe r Novelis or customer locations . Experience in establishing and supervising collaborative research programs between industry and academia.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in developing advanced materials and functionalized surfaces/coatings via wet and dry processes for automotive and transportation, beverage packaging, architectural sheet, and consumer electronics .

What We Offer

Novelis benefits say a lot about how we care for each other. Our employees and their families have many different needs . As a result, our benefits offer choices on many levels and are high in quality, competitive in the marketplace, and affordable. These are a few of the benefits we offer to support you and your family’s well‑being:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Health savings accounts – Company Funded Health Savings Account (HSA) and Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Company‑paid basic life insurance and Additional voluntary life coverage
• Paid vacation and competitive personal time off
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Retiree Medical Plans – medical and prescription drug coverage through Novelis sponsored Retiree Health Access
• Retirement Savings Account
• Employee assistance programs – available 24/7 to you and your family
• Wellness and Work Life Support – career development and educational assistance

Location Profile

Novelis’ Global Research and Technology Center located in Kennesaw Georgia within the greater Atlanta metropolitan area is a cutting‑edge full‑service research and technology hub that employs approximately 200 people including world‑class engineers metallurgists chemists and scientists. The facility includes state‑of‑the‑art lab equipment and a diverse mix of product pilot lines that bring innovative solutions to customers in the automotive beverage can and specialty markets. Kennesaw provides a diverse and family‑friendly place to live with countless museums cultural opportunities and educational institutions. Novelis is committed to the Kennesaw community and supports a number of local charitable organizations including Habitat for Humanity as well as FIRST Robotics aimed at encouraging young people to pursue the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in order to spur the next generation of scientists and innovators. Novelis recognizes its talented and diverse workforce as a key competitive advantage. Novelis provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. All terms and conditions of employment at Novelis including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoffs recalls transfers leaves of absence compensation and training are without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal provincial or local laws.