Senior Research Scientist

Socket.dev; Alpharetta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev in Alpharetta, GA, seeks a Senior Research Scientist to drive adhesive/sealant research aligned with business goals. You will plan and run experiments, develop test methods, and mentor junior staff while interfacing with engineering, quality, and production teams.

You will present findings to leadership, pursue process improvements, and collaborate with customers on applications, with occasional international travel.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in chemistry, engineering, or materials science (PhD preferred).
• 7+ years developing adhesives for target applications and markets.
• Hands-on adhesive formulation development with structure-property and rheology focus.
• Strong patent/invention track record.
• Good synthetic/wet chemistry skills.
• Statistical analysis and test method development experience.
• Experience with stage-gate processes and cGMP/ISO familiarity.
• English language required; Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Stay updated on technical developments relevant to projects and business goals.
• Develop and validate new test methods as needed.
• Identify and apply new technologies for electronics and industrial use.
• Present ideas to upper management to justify investments.
• Develop, improve, and customize products, equipment, formulas, and test methods.
• Provide specs and testing for incoming materials and finished products.
• Review product specs to ensure designs meet requirements.
• Conduct R&D to enhance products or qualify vendors/materials.
• Mentor junior scientists and run DoE studies using statistical tools.
• Answer customer questions, support launch data, and define bonding/dispensing process windows.
• Collaborate with customers to optimize applications; ~10% international travel.

Skills

Adhesive formulation development

Structure–property relationships

Rheology characterization

Patents / invention track record

Wet chemistry

Statistical analysis

Test method development

Stage-gate process / cGMP knowledge

English proficiency

Spanish knowledge (nice to have)

Education

PhD or advanced degree in chemistry/engineering/materials science

Tools

None

Job description

Summary:

As a Senior Research Scientist your main objective is to contribute to the company's products, profitability, and markets by participating in technical research into new adhesive & sealant products and processes, consistent with business goals and priorities. This activity requires interfacing with other departments, reading technical literature, planning, and conducting experiments and occasionally leading the activities of lower-level employees.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Research / Operational Expectations:

• Maintain knowledge of technical developments, which could contribute to or be a competitive threat to project objectives.
• Maintain compliance with the Quality Manual, Safety Policy and other procedures.
• Develop and validate new test methods as necessary.
• Identify and innovate new technologies that could be applied in electronics and industrial applications.
• Present and communicate new ideas effectively to upper management to make the case for investment.
• Develop, improve, and customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, and test methods for new products identified by end users.

• Provide specifications and appropriate testing for new incoming raw materials and finished products as required.
• Review product specifications and performance requirements to determine adequate design of products to meet these requirements.
• Conduct Research and development efforts to enhance current products or qualify alternative vendors or materials.

• Assist in the resolution of concerns assigned by Quality for goods and processes.
• Maintain laboratory to cGMP and GLP requirements as necessary.
• Write technical reports, apply invention disclosures, and prepare specifications for processes.
• Plan and conduct research and development programs arising from approved Technical Inquires.

• Maintain an awareness of technical developments, intellectual property, and compliance regulations relating to areas of interest to the company. Pursue patent applications or maintain proprietary information as appropriate.

• Mentor junior level scientists and technicians.
• Run self-directed structured DoE's to generate performance data and resolve customer complaints, using statistical tools (e.g., 6-sigma, Minitab) to drive data-driven decisions and customer-ready technical reports.
• Answer customer technical questions, support product launch data packages, and define bonding/dispensing process windows (needle, jet, etc.).
• Collaborate with customers to optimize their application/dispensing processes and learn to operate relevant customer-end equipment; ~10% international travel as needed.

Qualifications, Education and/or Experience Required:

• Advanced degree in chemistry, engineering, materials science, or related discipline (PhD preferred)
• Experience in adhesives or coatings technology, tech transfer of processes to large or pilot-scale processes.
  - specialized in UV-curable acrylate and epoxy adhesive chemistry (epoxy chemistry strongly preferred), including urethane and dual-cure/hybrid curing systems.

• 7+ years of experience developing adhesives for target applications and markets.
• Hands-on adhesive formulation development experience, with strong understanding of structure-property relationships and rheological properties/characterization.

• Strong patent/invention track record
• Good synthetic/wet chemistry skills.
• Statistical analysis and testing.
• Analytical skills and Test method development.
• Experience in stage-gate process, computer literacy with knowledge of cGMP, and ISO requirements preferred.

Language Skills:

• English required, bilingual (Spanish) a plus.

Physical Demands:

• Position requires walking, standing for prolonged periods, occasionally required to sit, climb, or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. May frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Work Environment:

• Non-temperature-controlled warehouse, non-temperature-controlled production floor, temperature-controlled office.

Other Duties:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

AAP/EEO Statement:

• CHEMENCE® 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. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.