Rubber Formulation Chemist — R&D & Testing

Clearbridge Executive Search; Clymer (PA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Clearbridge Executive Search is seeking a detail-oriented Chemist to join our R&D team in a rubber manufacturing environment in Clymer, PA. You will develop, test, and optimize rubber compound formulations, perform physical and chemical testing, and scale up production from formulation to manufacturing while collaborating with Production, Engineering, and Quality teams.

The role requires a Bachelor's in Chemistry or related field, hands-on lab experience with spectrophotometers, HPLC, and Mooney

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in chemical testing, laboratory analysis, research, or product development.
• Knowledge of rubber chemistry, rubber compound formulation, and vulcanization processes.
• Understanding of rubber testing methods, including Mooney viscosity, tensile strength, and hardness testing.
• Hands-on experience with analytical laboratory instruments, including spectrophotometers, chromatography systems, HPLC, and spectroscopy equipment.
• Experience with experimental design, data analysis, and chemical process troubleshooting.
• Understanding of product development and manufacturing scale-up processes.
• Familiarity with GLP, cGMP, ISO 9001, and laboratory safety standards.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work in both laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and optimize rubber compound formulations for various applications.
• Conduct physical, chemical, and rheological testing on raw materials and finished products.
• Analyze test results, identify trends, and recommend improvements to product quality and manufacturing processes.
• Operate, maintain, and calibrate laboratory equipment, including spectrophotometers, gas chromatographs, HPLC systems, and spectrometers.
• Develop and improve analytical testing methods.
• Support research and development projects involving new products and existing rubber formulations.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Quality teams to resolve manufacturing and product quality issues.
• Troubleshoot chemical processes and rubber compound performance issues.
• Evaluate new raw materials, additives, and processing techniques.
• Support product development from initial formulation through production scale-up.
• Maintain accurate records of formulations, laboratory results, and experimental data.
• Prepare technical reports and support regulatory documentation and quality audits.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety procedures and applicable quality standards.

Skills

Rubber chemistry

Laboratory testing

Analytical testing methods

Data analysis

Experiment design

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Bachelor's degree in Polymer Science

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Spectrophotometers

Gas Chromatographs

HPLC systems

Spectrometers

Mooney viscometer

Tensile tester

Hardness tester

Job description

Clearbridge Executive Search is seeking a detail-oriented Chemist to join our R&D team in a rubber manufacturing environment in Clymer, PA. You will develop, test, and optimize rubber compound formulations, perform physical and chemical testing, and scale up production from formulation to manufacturing while collaborating with Production, Engineering, and Quality teams.

The role requires a Bachelor's in Chemistry or related field, hands-on lab experience with spectrophotometers, HPLC, and Mooney