Research Coatings Manager

CPS Inc.; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K

Job summary

CPS Inc. is seeking a Research Coatings Manager to lead R&D and formulation for epoxy and polyurethane marine coatings, staying hands-on at the bench.

You will develop products from concept through scale-up, coordinate with manufacturing and technical service, mentor a small team, and ensure safety, quality, and thorough documentation. Travel to customer sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Direct formulation experience with epoxy marine coatings.
• Direct formulation experience with polyurethane marine coatings.
• Experience with marine and protective coatings.
• Strong knowledge of polymer chemistry and resin selection.
• Proven ability to develop, test, and scale formulations.
• Experience supporting product commercialization and field trials.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D formulation for epoxy and polyurethane marine coatings.
• Manage product development from concept through scale-up and commercialization.
• Coordinate with manufacturing to troubleshoot and scale formulations.
• Oversee Technical Service and a small team of personnel.
• Provide technical guidance to customers and conduct field evaluations.
• Ensure safety, quality, and thorough technical documentation.

Skills

Epoxy coatings

Polyurethane coatings

Marine coatings

Protective coatings

Polymer chemistry

Resin selection

Formulation development

Product testing

Scale-up

Manufacturing support

Technical documentation

Data interpretation

Laboratory testing

Customer-facing tech support

Product commercialization

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry or related field

Job description

Research Coatings Manager The duties and responsibilities of the Research Coatings Manager are as follows:

R&D / Formulation:

Lead the development and improvement of epoxy and polyurethane marine coating systems. Remain hands-on at the bench developing, modifying, and testing formulations. Develop new formulations based on customer requirements, product performance needs, and market opportunities. Conduct laboratory testing and analyze formulation performance. Troubleshoot formulation and product-performance issues. Maintain strong technical knowledge of marine coating technologies and industry developments.

Product Development:

Manage products from initial concept through formulation, testing, scale-up, and commercialization. Develop project priorities, timelines, and resource requirements. Work with internal teams to move new products successfully through development. Support customer trials and field evaluations. Provide technical recommendations based on laboratory and field data. Identify opportunities for product improvement and new product development.

Manufacturing & Scale-Up:

Support the transition of laboratory formulations into production. Work directly with Production to troubleshoot manufacturing and formulation issues. Participate in production trials and scale-up activities. Investigate quality and performance issues and develop corrective actions. Ensure formulations are developed with manufacturability and consistency in mind. Provide technical support during commercialization.

Technical Service & Customer Support:

Oversee the Technical Service function and 2 Technical Service employees. Provide technical guidance on customer questions and product-performance issues. Work with customers to understand technical requirements and develop appropriate solutions. Support customer trials, field evaluations, and troubleshooting. Travel to customer sites when needed. Partner with Sales and Technical Service to address customer needs. Translate customer feedback into opportunities for formulation improvements and new product development.

Leadership & Team Management:

Directly manage 3 employees: 1 R&D and 2 Technical Service. Lead, coach, mentor, and develop team members. Assign and prioritize projects and technical activities. Provide technical direction and support. Monitor project progress and ensure priorities are addressed. Encourage collaboration between R&D and Technical Service. Participate in hiring, training, performance management, and employee development. Balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on laboratory work.

Safety, Quality & Documentation:

Ensure laboratory and R&D activities follow company safety procedures. Promote proper chemical handling and PPE use. Maintain accurate formulation, testing, and project documentation. Review technical data and prepare reports and recommendations. Support quality initiatives and applicable regulatory requirements. Maintain an organized and safe laboratory environment.

Salary $130,000 - $160,000

Benefits M/D/V/401K

Technical Qualifications:

• Direct formulation experience with epoxy marine coatings
• Direct formulation experience with polyurethane marine coatings
• Marine coatings
• Protective coatings
• Polymer chemistry
• Resin and raw material selection
• Formulation development and optimization
• New product development
• Product performance testing
• Coating application and evaluation
• Product troubleshooting
• Raw material replacement and qualification
• Production troubleshooting
• Scale-up from laboratory to commercial manufacturing
• Product commercialization
• Customer-specific formulations
• Customer and field technical support
• Technical documentation and reporting
• Ability to interpret laboratory and field test data
• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or related field.