Technical Director

Phazebreak Coatings; Olathe (KS); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Phazebreak Coatings is seeking a Technical Director to lead the development, scale-up, and commercialization of high-performance functional coatings for energy and industrial markets.

The role integrates chemistry, manufacturing, field performance and customer input to translate IP into revenue-generating products. It is not laboratory management, but a technical authority responsible for scalable, repeatable coatings across geographies.

Qualifications

• Experience taking a coating from concept to commercial launch.
• Experience running field performance programs.
• Experience working directly with asset owners or OEMs.
• Ability to translate market requirements into coating specifications.
• Ability to define QC specifications, SOPs and regulatory strategies.

Responsibilities

• Own the technology strategy and translate market requirements into coating performance specs.
• Lead scale-up, manufacturing readiness, and QC spec definition for repeatable production.
• Serve as technical authority for customers and partners in pilot programs and ROI models.
• Manage certification, testing, and regulatory alignment with ASTM/ISO/IEC and REACH/TSCA.
• Drive field performance improvements and data-driven formulation refinement.
• Build and lead the coating technology team, including chemists and QC personnel.

Job description

Phazebreak is hiring a Technical Director to lead the development, scale-up, and commercialization of high-performance functional coatings serving renewable energy and industrial markets.

This role sits at the intersection of chemistry, manufacturing, field performance, customer requirements, and commercialization. This is not a lab management function. It is the technical authority responsible for translating our IP into scalable, repeatable, revenue generating coatings.

This role leads the coating technology. Application strategy and field deployment leadership sit separately within the organization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Own the Technology Strategy

• Translate market requirements into coating performance specifications
• Prioritize the R&D pipeline, what gets developed, validated, or shelved
• Align formulations with application methods, production capability, regulatory pathways, and cost targets

2. Scale-Up, Manufacturing, and Application Readiness

• Scale up from bench to batch manufacturing
• Define QC specifications and tolerances
• Lock down SOPs, application windows, cure profiles, and surface preparation standards
• Ensure repeatability across sites and climates

Outcome: A coating that performs consistently across geographies and operating environments.

3. Technical Authority for Customers and Partners

• Support sales in senior-level meetings
• Own technical sections of pilot programs, validation plans, and ROI models
• Interface with turbine OEMs, solar OEMs, asset owners, EPCs, and O&M providers

Outcome: Faster adoption and fewer stalled deals.

4. Certification, Testing, and Compliance

• Manage third-party lab programs
• Align with ASTM, ISO, IEC, DNV, and other relevant standards
• Own chemical regulatory strategy including REACH, TSCA, and global SDS frameworks

5. Field Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Create feedback loops from field results to data to formulation and process refinement
• Focus on durability, erosion and impact resistance, soiling, ice mitigation, and hydrophilicity retention

Outcome: Performance data that drives revenue and valuation.

6. Build and Lead the Technical Organization

• Lead and develop coating chemists
• Lead lab and QC personnel
• Build working relationships with raw material suppliers
• Own technical documentation and knowledge systems

This role requires a commercially fluent technologist who understands how technical performance translates into customer adoption and revenue growth.

Ideal Background

10 to 20 plus years in advanced coatings, specialty chemicals, or materials for energy, aerospace, or industrial assets.

Experience taking a coating from concept to commercial launch.

Experience running field performance programs.

Experience working directly with asset owners or OEMs.

Experience scaling production with toll manufacturers or internal plants.

Typical titles may include Technical Director, Global R&D Manager, Head of Technology, Director of Product Development, or Technical Service Director.

Why This Role Is Critical

• Convert technical performance into third-party validated data that supports revenue and valuation
• Reduce time to OEM acceptance
• Increase credibility with buyers who expect technical depth