Senior Chemist

NPAA; Town of Lansing (NY); On-site; USD 57,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus structure

Paid holidays

Health & 401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Company events

Job summary

NPAA is seeking an experienced dispersion chemist to support our technical team in meeting customer demands and maintaining leadership in coatings. You will work with lab-scale dispersions, prepare prototypes, and collaborate across departments to drive product improvements.

The role emphasizes hands-on formulation, data documentation, and contribution to scale-up trials, with safety and compliance at the forefront. A science degree and 2+ years' experience are required.

Qualifications

• College degree in a science-related field required.
• 2+ years of applicable experience.
• Capable of safely handling paints and chemicals, including isocyanates, while utilizing PPE.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Basic computer skills (Office, Word, Excel).

Responsibilities

• Prepare and refine prototype samples using lab-scale dispersing equipment.
• Prepare, validate, and document lab-scale prototype batches.
• Collaborate with internal teams to meet dispersion performance and manufacturing constraints.
• Engage with suppliers to stay current on dispersion technologies.
• Support scale-up trials on-site and off-site with observations and recommendations.
• Investigate and resolve technical issues with root-cause analysis and draft management reports.

Skills

2+ years of experience

Lab-scale dispersing equipment

Education

College degree in a science-related field

Tools

Lab-scale dispersing equipment

Job description

At NPAA, we believe our employees are our greatest strength. We are proud to offer a generous and competitive rewards package, including:

• Earned Bonus Structure – attendance bonuses, annual merit increases, and an annual incentive bonus plan.
• Time Off & Holidays – 11 paid holidays each year, plus paid time off to support work-life balance.
• Health & Retirement – comprehensive health and welfare plans, along with a 401(k)program featuring an exceptional company match.
• Career Growth & Recognition – tuition reimbursement, employee recognition programs, and opportunities to grow within the organization.
• Culture & Community – as part of the NPAA family, you’ll enjoy company events throughout the year celebrating and appreciating our employees’ hard work and dedication.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This is an experienced position responsible for assisting the Technical Team in meeting the customers’ demands and helping ensure that NPAA remains the market leader in automotive coatings. This team member utilizes know-how in coatings chemistry and end-use to provide problem solving guidance for technical projects. This position is building key customer/supplier and strong interdepartmental relationships. The chemist supports basic business process and technical training for new hires. Participates in new business or internal business process improvement opportunities.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Dispersion:

• Utilize lab-scale dispersing equipment to prepare and refine prototype samples in accordance with established formulation and testing procedures.
• Prepare, validate, and document lab-scale prototype batches to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with project specifications.

Collaborate closely with internal technical, operations, commercial, and production support teams to understand the dispersion performance requirements in the coating, along with any manufacturing constraints and downstream process needs for the dispersion.

• Engage with raw material and equipment suppliers to stay current on industry advancements, new dispersion technologies, and emerging market trends.
• Support and participate in manufacturing scale-up trials both on-site and off-site, providing technical observations, troubleshooting, and process improvement recommendations.

Use the dispersions that were prepared to make paint samples and perform standard testing on the finished product. This could include testing on the wet paint, spraying the paint on panels, and testing the paint on panels.

• Investigate and resolve technical issues by partnering with cross-functional teams, applying root-cause analysis, and recommending corrective actions.
• Prepare clear, detailed internal reports and draft documentation for management review, ensuring compliance with project milestones and timelines.
• Requires 3–10 years of experience in dispersion technology.

SALARY RANGE:

$57,428.27 to $117,978.40 annually. Compensation for this role is negotiable based on experience and skill set.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree in a science-related field required.
• 2+ years of applicable experience.

Capable of safely handling paints and chemicals, including isocyanates, while utilizing all required personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Basic computer Skills, office/word/excel.

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.