Research & Development Scientist I/II Job Details | Wacker Chemie AG

Wacker Chemie; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Research & Development Scientist to join their dynamic team in Ann Arbor. This role focuses on developing and testing sustainable materials that contribute to various industries, including Personal Care and Healthcare. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in chemistry and experience in a research lab environment. With a commitment to environmental health and safety, you'll play a vital role in advancing state-of-the-art materials. This position offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including flexible work arrangements and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid parental leave

Wellbeing fund

Flexible hybrid work arrangements

401(k) plan with company match

Education Assistance Program

Career development opportunities

Support for community involvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
• Experience in a research lab preferred, especially in chemical synthesis.

Responsibilities

• Develop and test new materials for sustainability goals.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary R&D projects in Personal Care and Healthcare.

Skills

Chemistry

Polymer Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Analytical Techniques (NMR, IR, GC)

Interpersonal Skills

Environmental Health and Safety Standards

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Bachelor's degree in Polymer Chemistry

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science

Tools

NMR

IR

GC

DSC

DMA

TGA

Job description

Do you want to take responsibility and make a difference with your work? With your expertise, we can achieve great goals together. We are WACKER - Reliable. Determined. Ambitious. As one of the world's most research-intensive chemical companies, we've been making countless products that are an integral part of your everyday life possible for over 100 years. From vegan food to resource-efficient buildings to solar cells, we develop sustainable solutions that change the future.

To strengthen our team in Ann Arbor, we are looking for you as a Research & Development Scientist I/II.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop, synthesize, analyze, and test new materials and formulations towards WACKER’s sustainability goals within a global team environment.
• Advance state-of-the-art materials and formulations.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary R&D projects for the target markets of Personal Care, Healthcare, and Industrial Coatings with a focus on sustainable and high-performance materials.
• Accurately record, analyze, and report experimental data.
• Ensure safe lab operations, manage lab routines, including equipment maintenance.
• Communicate effectively with internal technical colleagues, including R&D, Business Teams, and Production.
• Contribute to a creative R&D environment through ideation and innovation discussions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Industrial, academic, or government research lab experience in chemical synthesis preferred.
• Minimum of a summer internship or equivalent research experience in a lab environment.
• Experience characterizing chemical compounds using analytical techniques such as NMR, IR, GC, DSC, DMA, TGA, etc.
• Knowledge of polymer chemistry and structure-property relationships preferred.
• Experience with emulsion/emulsion polymerization preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• Strong commitment to environmental health and safety standards.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

What do we offer?

WACKER strives to reward its employees fairly and equitably. Our Total Rewards Package considers employee wellbeing and includes compensation, benefits, work-life balance, performance & recognition, and career development.

• Competitive compensation and incentive plans
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance effective from day 1
• Paid Time Off, including personal days and holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Wellbeing fund
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Education Assistance Program
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Support for community involvement

We look forward to your online application at www.wacker.com.
Reference Code: 29360 #LI-CE1

The information provided is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities or required skills. A minimum requirement for this US-based position is the ability to work legally in the United States on a permanent basis. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Wacker is an Equal Opportunity Employer, promoting equality regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. We welcome applications from a diverse candidate pool. Selection will be based on merit.