Surface Treatment Chemist / Sr Chemist

Quaker Houghton; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Parental Leave

Holiday Pay

Tuition Reimbursement

Savings Plan

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Quaker Houghton is seeking a Formulation Chemist to focus on formulation changes, raw-material substitutions, cost optimization, and new-product development. You will collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, procurement and technical service to ensure product robustness and accelerate timelines.

The role emphasizes formulation adjustments, material qualification, and lab testing to validate performance and maintain quality across products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 2–7 years of experience in formulation, product development, or applied chemistry.
• Hands-on experience with formulation changes and optimization; raw-material evaluation and substitution; application testing and performance validation.

Responsibilities

• Formulation Adjustments — Modify existing formulations to improve performance, reduce cost, or address supply-chain changes.
• Raw Material Qualification — Evaluate alternative suppliers, test new raw materials, and ensure compatibility with existing products.
• Simple Product Development — Develop incremental or derivative products based on customer needs or market gaps.
• Lab Testing & Validation — Conduct performance testing, stability studies, and application evaluations.
• Documentation — Maintain formulation records, test reports, and SOPs in compliance with internal quality systems.
• Scale-Up Support — Assist manufacturing teams during pilot runs and production scale-ups.
• Troubleshooting — Investigate formulation issues, quality deviations, or customer complaints.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration — Work with procurement, operations, and technical service to ensure smooth implementation of formulation changes.
• Continuous Improvement — Identify opportunities to streamline formulations, reduce complexity, or improve sustainability.

Skills

Formulation changes

Raw-material evaluation

Application testing

Performance validation

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field

Job description

Job Summary

Autonomously and independently manage and execute development assignments, determinations and tests. Provide guidance and oversight to junior level Chemists and Technicians. Address complex customer problems by independently developing and improving chemical products used in a variety of manufacturing and mechanical systems in order to enhance processes, safety and quality in order to meet customer needs and provide solutions to application problems. Take pricing, timing and priority setting into consideration. Investigate applicability of new and alternative raw materials in order to enhance performance and minimize cost. Evaluate and implement alternative raw materials in existing products. Design, develop, and implement specified tests and determinations, in order to answer questions and address problems of customers. Develop and perform customer requested product analysis and testing. Independently select and execute analytical tests in order to determine quantitative and qualitative composition of raw materials, formulations, competitive products and other chemical (field) samples. Determine performance characteristics of competitive products using physical, instrumental and wet analysis techniques. Clearly and orderly record all observations and data. Report results in a clear and concise manner to enhance technical exchange. Provide legal and archival documentation for patent applications. Develop, improve and execute test methods to enhance R&R, efficiency and field performance predictability. Provide technical service and knowledge to customers and sales associates based upon the chemist’s current level of expertise. Visit customers when required to assist the Commercial team, develop and deliver presentations, and engage in discussions on complex matters of significance with customers. Partner with manufacturing in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing process. Assist manufacturing and the quality assurance lab in solving quality and production problems. Train and oversee more junior level chemists, lab technicians and trainees in executing routine analysis at the Development Laboratory. Deliver internal trainings for new hires or employees when needed. Maintain equipment glassware and workspace in order to keep them clean and well-functioning. Properly dispose of all laboratory waste. Participate in ensuring good management of laboratory equipment and storage spaces for chemicals and raw materials. Comply with housekeeping rules. Ensure that all equipment and machines in your area of control are managed with regards to safety, maintenance, calibration, and availability. Perform project work in cooperation with a variety of internal and external contacts. Lead internal projects as needed. Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality responsibilities: Comply with the applicable regulations and standards regarding quality, safety, environmental as well as the occupational health standards in order to minimize risks in these areas and to create opportunities and chances for improvement. Work Environment/Physical Demands: Work in a laboratory and administrative office setting, w/ some travel as required. Ensure a safety mindset throughout designated area of responsibility. While performing the duties of this job the employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. The associate must be able to safely work in a variety of potentially hazardous situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to carefully, and precisely manipulate samples, apparatus, and sensitive instruments. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk sit and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, or no more than local or country regulations allow. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Formulation Chemist

This role focuses on formulation changes, raw-material substitutions, cost-optimization, and simple new-product development, ensuring product performance, quality, and manufacturability. The chemist will work closely with R&D, manufacturing, procurement, and technical service teams to maintain product robustness and accelerate development timelines. This role focuses on formulation changes, raw-material substitutions, cost-optimization, and simple new-product development, ensuring product performance, quality, and manufacturability. The chemist will work closely with R&D, manufacturing, procurement, and technical service teams to maintain product robustness and accelerate development timelines.

• Formulation Adjustments — Modify existing formulations to improve performance, reduce cost, or address supply-chain changes.
• Raw Material Qualification — Evaluate alternative suppliers, test new raw materials, and ensure compatibility with existing products.
• Simple Product Development — Develop incremental or derivative products based on customer needs or market gaps.
• Lab Testing & Validation — Conduct performance testing, stability studies, and application evaluations.
• Documentation — Maintain formulation records, test reports, and SOPs in compliance with internal quality systems.
• Scale-Up Support — Assist manufacturing teams during pilot runs and production scale-ups.
• Troubleshooting — Investigate formulation issues, quality deviations, or customer complaints.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration — Work with procurement, operations, and technical service to ensure smooth implementation of formulation changes.
• Continuous Improvement — Identify opportunities to streamline formulations, reduce complexity, or improve sustainability.

Qualification

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field. 2–7 years of experience in formulation, product development, or applied chemistry. Hands‑on experience with:

• Formulation changes and optimization
• Raw‑material evaluation and substitution
• Application testing and performance validation

Strong understanding of chemical interactions, stability, and compatibility. Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results on time.

About Us

At Quaker Houghton, we are experts in the development, production and application of industrial process fluids, lubricants and coatings for the manufacturing industry. We have been an integral part in the growth of the world’s largest industrial and manufacturing companies from aerospace and automotive to primary metal and energy. Today, we have a global presence, with our corporate headquarters located in Conshohocken, PA. Quaker Houghton is a global publicly traded company with a unique collaborative culture that supports career growth for its associates and offers competitive compensation and benefit programs.

What's in it for you

Competitive pay programs with excellent career growth trajectory Paid time off for volunteerism Dress for your day; how you dress is determined by what your day may bring Opportunity to participate in comprehensive benefit options including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Parental Leave, Holiday Pay, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, and Savings Plan Work for a global leader in the industrial process fluids industry

Quaker Houghton provides equal employment opportunity for all qualified candidates. Quaker Houghton does not discriminate against any candidate for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, veteran’s status, physical/mental disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by U.S federal, state, and/or local employment law. Furthermore, Quaker Houghton is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates with physical and/or mental disabilities.