Senior Scientist - Wet-Applied Building Materials Leader

National Gypsum Company; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 115,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

401(k) with employer match

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Job summary

National Gypsum Company, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is seeking a Senior Scientist to lead and conduct scientific research in joint compounds and plaster, designing experiments and interpreting data to deliver performance improvements and Sustainability alignment.

You will collaborate with manufacturing teams, vendors, and cross-functional partners to develop and scale new products, mentor junior staff, and ensure regulatory and safety compliance while driving projects from concept to

Qualifications

• MS with 5+ years industrial experience or PhD with 0–2 years.
• Hands-on formulation experience in joint compounds or plaster or adjacent gypsum products.
• Demonstrated command of core formulation competencies: rheology, waterborne polymers, mineral fillers/additives, set/cure control.
• Enthusiasm for wet-applied building materials and joint compound chemistry.
• Proven track record in research and product development.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 40%.

Responsibilities

• Generate, lead, and conduct impactful research focused on joint compound and plaster formulation, rheology, and performance.
• Plan and design scientifically rigorous experiments; collect, analyze, and interpret data and report conclusions with risks and opportunities.
• Develop and test new products/technologies and lab techniques; supervise test programs and ensure technical accuracy of reports.
• Collaborate with functions across the organization to achieve project objectives.
• Stay current with industry trends and competitive products; present findings to stakeholders.
• Communicate technical activities and results to all levels within the company and externally.
• Lead and mentor junior staff and support their professional development.
• Ensure regulatory and safety compliance.
• Align with ProForm business unit objectives and develop a sustainable innovation pipeline.
• Drive ideation to commercialization; address capital or technical discipline needs.
• Serve on technical committees as needed and leverage AI tools to accelerate innovation in drywall finishing.

Skills

Joint compound formulation

Plaster formulation

Rheology

Data analysis

Communication

Leadership

Education

MS in relevant field

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Lab testing methods

AI in formulation

Job description

National Gypsum Company, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is seeking a Senior Scientist to lead and conduct scientific research in joint compounds and plaster, designing experiments and interpreting data to deliver performance improvements and Sustainability alignment.

You will collaborate with manufacturing teams, vendors, and cross-functional partners to develop and scale new products, mentor junior staff, and ensure regulatory and safety compliance while driving projects from concept to