Senior Chemist

Mackinnon Bruce International; Monroe (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Mackinnon Bruce International is seeking a hands-on R&D Chemist in Monroe, CT to develop, test, and scale water-based coating technologies for plastics, composites, and molded polymers.

You will formulate polymers, binders, surfactants, and additives; perform adhesion and rheology testing; and collaborate across R&D, manufacturing, and sales to meet customer requirements.

The ideal candidate has a chemistry or polymer science degree and 8–10 years of industry experience in coatings.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of formulation experience in coatings, paints, adhesives, or related speciality chemical industry.
• Experience developing and testing water-based coatings and adhesives.
• Strong knowledge of polymer chemistry, surface chemistry, rheology, emulsions, dispersions.
• Hands-on lab experience with formulation development and coating testing.
• Ability to work safely with chemicals and coating application methods.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize water-based coating and release systems to meet performance and customer requirements
• Formulate and evaluate polymers, binders, surfactants, crosslinkers, rheology modifiers, and specialty additives
• Design and execute laboratory testing for adhesion, film formation, surface properties, stability, miscibility, crosslinking, rheology, and release performance
• Apply polymer and surface chemistry principles to solve technical challenges
• Replicate customer and manufacturing processes in the laboratory to predict application and field performance
• Support customer trials, industrial evaluations, troubleshooting, scale-up, and plant trials
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, quality, technical service, sales, and customers
• Maintain clear documentation of formulations, experiments, test results, conclusions, and recommendations
• Support new product development, raw material evaluations, continuous improvement, and scale-up activities

Skills

Water-based coatings

Polymer formulation

Rheology expertise

Laboratory testing

Adhesion testing

Scale-up processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

We are seeking a hands‑on R&D Chemist with strong experience in water‑based/aqueous coatings, specialty additives, polymers, and formulation development. The role will focus on developing, testing, optimizing, and scaling coating technologies for plastics, composites, thermoset and molded polymer applications, including aqueous release systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize water‑based coating and release systems to meet performance and customer requirements
• Formulate and evaluate polymers, binders, surfactants, crosslinkers, rheology modifiers, and specialty additives
• Design and execute laboratory testing for adhesion, film formation, surface properties, stability, miscibility, crosslinking, rheology, and release performance
• Apply polymer chemistry, surface chemistry, rheology, dispersion, emulsion, and formulation principles to solve technical challenges
• Replicate customer and manufacturing processes in the laboratory to predict application and field performance
• Support customer trials, industrial evaluations, troubleshooting, scale‑up, and plant trials
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, quality, technical service, sales, and customers
• Maintain clear documentation of formulations, experiments, test results, conclusions, and recommendations
• Support new product development, raw material evaluations, continuous improvement, and scale‑up activities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline
• 8–10 years of formulation experience in coatings, paints, adhesives, or related speciality chemical industry
• Demonstrated experience developing and testing water‑based coatings and adhesive
• Strong working knowledge of polymer chemistry, surface chemistry, rheology, emulsions, dispersions, and aqueous formulation
• Hands‑on laboratory experience with formulation development, coating testing, data analysis, and trouble‑shooting
• Ability to work safely with chemicals, laboratory equipment, and coating application method