Senior Automotive Coatings R&D Lead

PPG Industries; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

PPG Industries in Cleveland, OH seeks a highly seasoned S&T Product Development Chemist II, Senior to lead and advance waterborne automotive refinish basecoat technologies. You will steer projects, translate business needs into technical plans, and drive development toward commercialization with minimal supervision.

This individual contributor role requires strong formulation expertise, risk assessment, and collaboration across R&D, manufacturing, and product management to deliver robust coating

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in a technical, laboratory, product development, formulation, applications, or materials-related role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects or major technical workstreams with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to make data-driven technical decisions that advance complex projects.
• Strong knowledge of formulation development, experimental design, laboratory practices, data interpretation, and structured problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex formulation, application, appearance, performance, color, or manufacturing-related challenges.
• Ability to mentor less experienced technical staff and guide others through experimental planning, data analysis, and technical decision-making.
• Strong organizational and project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deliverables, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, optimization, and evaluation of coatings formulations for waterborne automotive refinish basecoat technologies and related product platforms.
• Define technical project strategy, establish experimental plans, prioritize technical work, and drive development programs from concept through commercialization.
• Make critical technical decisions using sound scientific principles, experimental evidence, risk assessment, and business or customer requirements.
• Lead complex technical investigations involving formulation performance, application behavior, appearance, color properties, durability, manufacturability, or product robustness.
• Design, direct, and execute laboratory experiments using appropriate controls, disciplined methodology, and clear success criteria.
• Translate experimental results and technical risks into actionable recommendations that influence project direction, resource priorities, and commercialization readiness.
• Guide, coach, and mentor less experienced chemists in experimental design, formulation approach, data interpretation, troubleshooting, and technical communication.
• Provide technical leadership to cross-functional and global project teams, including R&D, manufacturing, marketing, sales, procurement, quality, and product management.
• Lead or support technology transfer, scale-up, manufacturing trials, and launch readiness efforts.
• Formulate, prepare, spray apply, and evaluate standard and experimental color coatings as needed to support project objectives and technical decision-making.
• Conduct and/or direct physical, chemical, application, appearance, color, and performance testing of coatings technologies.
• Identify technical gaps, anticipate project risks, develop mitigation plans, and proactively remove barriers to project progress.
• Communicate technical results, project status, risks, recommendations, and decision points through clear presentations and stakeholder discussions.
• Build productive relationships with suppliers, customers, and broader PPG technical communities to support raw material evaluations, technology scouting, and project execution.
• Maintain strong documentation practices in accordance with internal requirements, intellectual property needs, safety expectations, and project governance.
• Model a safety-first mindset while leading laboratory work, promoting safe work practices, and participating in team safety initiatives.
• Actively support 6S, continuous improvement, laboratory productivity, and technical best-practice development across the team.
• Adhere to corporate policies, government regulations, business conduct standards, environmental requirements, and EEO guidelines.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Mentoring

Communication skills

Problem solving

Laboratory documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Coatings Science, or related STEM

Advanced degree preferred in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

DOE

Job description

PPG Industries in Cleveland, OH seeks a highly seasoned S&T Product Development Chemist II, Senior to lead and advance waterborne automotive refinish basecoat technologies. You will steer projects, translate business needs into technical plans, and drive development toward commercialization with minimal supervision.

This individual contributor role requires strong formulation expertise, risk assessment, and collaboration across R&D, manufacturing, and product management to deliver robust coating