Scientist Chemist

Hexcel Corporation; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hexcel Corporation is seeking a Scientist Chemist for its Salt Lake City, UT location. The role focuses on linking surface chemistry and sizing with carbon fiber performance, leading DOE-based research, and guiding scale-up from lab to production.

The candidate will work across R&D, operations, and customers, leveraging advanced characterization methods and programming tools to drive next-generation CFRP products. A PhD and strong communication skills are required.

Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Physics, or related field.
• Knowledge of surface chemistry, interfacial science, materials characterization, polymer science, carbon fibers, graphitic materials, or composite materials.
• Experience planning experiments, analyzing data, and applying statistical methods, incl. DoE and measurement system analysis.
• Experience with XPS, ToF-SIMS, AFM, SEM, Raman or FTIR characterization.
• Apply engineering principles to scale products from lab to production and collaborate across R&D, operations, and business teams.
• Strong communication of technical information through reports, procedures, and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate theories linking PAN conversion, carbon fiber surface characteristics, sizing, and composite performance.
• Lead cross-functional research to establish structure-property relationships using materials characterization and testing.
• Define strategies for next-generation carbon fiber products meeting customer and business needs.
• Plan and execute lab, pilot-scale, and manufacturing-scale trials using DoE and statistical analysis.
• Apply surface and interfacial characterization techniques and serve as SME for carbon fiber sizing and surface treatments.
• Support scale-up, root-cause investigations, and customer-facing technical challenges related to fiber surface and CFRP performance.

Skills

Surface chemistry

Interfacial science

Materials characterization

Carbon fibers

Composite materials

Design of Experiments

Statistical analysis

Python

MATLAB

Communication

Education

PhD in Materials Science / Chemistry / Chemical Eng / Polymer Science

Tools

XPS

ToF-SIMS

AFM

SEM

Raman

FTIR

Job description

With our strong investment in research and development and our culture of continuous improvement, Hexcel is the industry leader in the manufacturing of advanced lightweight composite materials, including carbon fiber, woven reinforcements, resins, prepregs, honeycombs and engineered core and composite structures. We invite you to join the Hexcel team at various manufacturing sites, sales offices, and R&D centers around the globe. Become a part of the “strength within.”

Hexcel is currently seeking a Scientist Chemist for our Salt Lake City, UT, USA location.

Selected individual will be responsible for but not limited to the following obligations:

• Develop and validate scientific theories linking polyacrylonitrile conversion conditions, carbon fiber surface characteristics, sizing chemistry, and composite performance.
• Lead cross-functional research to establish structure-property relationships using materials characterization and composite testing methods.
• Define strategies for next-generation carbon fiber products that meet customer and business requirements.
• Plan and execute laboratory, pilot-scale, and manufacturing-scale trials using design of experiments and appropriate statistical analysis.
• Apply surface and interface characterization techniques and serve as the subject matter expert for carbon fiber sizing and surface treatment processes.
• Support scale-up, root-cause investigations, and customer-facing technical challenges related to fiber surface, interface, and CFRP performance.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Physics, or a related field.
• Knowledge of surface chemistry, interfacial science, materials characterization, polymer science, carbon fibers, graphitic materials, or composite materials.
• Experience planning experiments, analyzing data, and applying statistical methods, including design of experiments and measurement system analysis.
• Experience with one or more characterization methods such as XPS, ToF-SIMS, AFM, SEM, Raman, or FTIR.
• Ability to apply engineering principles to scale new products and processes from laboratory through production and work effectively across R&D, operations, and business teams.
• Ability to communicate technical information through reports, procedures, presentations, and discussions with managers, customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams. Programming experience using Python, SQL, MATLAB, or R is a plus.

Eligible candidates must be a: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, person lawfully admitted for permanent residence, temporary resident under sections 210(a) or 245(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, person admitted in refugee status, or person granted asylum.

Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) is a global leader in advanced composites technology, a leading producer of carbon fiber, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry.

Hexcel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected class.