Technical Director, Coolant Technology

Dober; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Dober in Woodridge, IL seeks a Technical Director, Coolant Technology to be the company’s primary technical authority on coolant chemistry and corrosion inhibition, overseeing heat transfer fluid performance for data center and industrial cooling applications.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in chemistry or related field with corrosion/inhibitor experience, hands-on glycol-fluid work, and the ability to guide cross-functional teams and external partners with clear, data-driven analysis.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry or related field with corrosion/inhibitor focus.
• Hands-on formulation or evaluation experience with glycol-based coolants.
• Ability to interpret ASTM, NACE/AMPP, ASHRAE, OEM specs.
• Strong communication of complex technical findings.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority on corrosion mechanisms and inhibitor packages.
• Direct laboratory testing of coolant performance across all parameters.
• Support OEM approvals and field technical support for coolant products.
• Represent the company in industry standards bodies and technical committees.

Skills

Corrosion science

Inhibitor chemistry

Glycol-based fluids

Data-center cooling

Technical leadership

Education

PhD in chemistry / electrochemistry / materials science / chemical engineering

MS with relevant industry experience

Tools

ICP

Ion chromatography

FTIR

Titration

Job description

Dober is seeking a Technical Director, Coolant Technology to serve as the company's primary technical authority on coolant chemistry, corrosion inhibition, and heat transfer fluid performance. This role owns the deep technical knowledge behind Dober's global coolant additives portfolio and supports the company's growing position in data center and advanced thermal management applications. It is both an expert bench-and-field scientist role and a trusted technical resource for customers, partners, and internal commercial and manufacturing teams.

The ideal candidate combines a strong foundation in corrosion science and inhibitor formulation chemistry with hands-on experience in glycol-based heat transfer fluids. We recognize that deep expertise in heavy-duty engine cooling and deep expertise in data center / precision cooling rarely reside in the same person; the priority is a scientist who understands the shared fundamentals — corrosion, inhibitor chemistry, materials compatibility, and fluid testing — well enough to lead confidently in one domain and grow into the other.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Corrosion Science & Inhibitor Chemistry

• Serve as the company's technical authority on corrosion mechanisms: galvanic, crevice, pitting, cavitation, and concentration-cell corrosion across the mixed-metal systems found in coolant and heat transfer applications.
• Own inhibitor chemistry across OAT, NOAT, HOAT, and inorganic (IAT) packages: formulation, performance evaluation, failure-mode analysis, and technology selection based on system metallurgy, fluid-life requirements, and customer specifications.
• Direct laboratory testing of coolant performance across the full parameter set: freeze/boil protection, corrosion inhibition, pH and reserve alkalinity, conductivity, thermal stability, microbial stability, and materials compatibility.
• Evaluate raw materials and formulation components — organic acids, carboxylates, silicates, nitrites, phosphates, hybrid blends, biocides, and dyes — for performance, compatibility, and regulatory suitability.
• Interpret and apply industry test methods and standards, including ASTM corrosion and coolant methods (e.g., D1384, D3306, D6210, D8040), reserve alkalinity (D1121), ASHRAE guidance, and NACE/AMPP corrosion practices.

Engine & Heavy-Duty Coolant Application

• Act as the technical escalation point for the coolant additives for customers and internal teams turn to when questions require genuine application depth.
• Provide authoritative, application-specific technical support to global coolant blenders and OEM accounts, reinforcing Dober's institutional knowledge advantage in heavy-duty and conventional coolant markets.
• Maintain and defend product performance against OEM approval requirements and evolving industry specifications across conventional, OAT, HOAT, and syrup product lines.
• Investigate and resolve field performance concerns, contamination events, and product quality issues with documented root-cause analysis and corrective action.

Data Center, HVAC & Precision Cooling Applications

• Develop, evaluate, and support inhibited water-glycol heat transfer fluids for direct-to-chip (DTC) liquid cooling, facility cooling loops, and HVAC applications, using ethylene glycol and propylene glycol systems.
• Apply corrosion and inhibitor expertise to precision cooling requirements: high-purity / deionized makeup water, chloride and sulfate control, pH buffering, cold-plate and quick-disconnect material compatibility, microbial control, and re-inhibition over long service life.
• Support technical evaluation and product positioning against thermal-performance and corrosion criteria relevant to mission-critical cooling loops.
• Provide technical support for HVAC and hydronic applications including chilled-water systems, closed loops, and thermal storage configurations.
• Represent Dober in industry technical bodies relevant to data center cooling — including Open Compute Project (OCP) and ASHRAE working groups — contributing to fluid specifications and emerging thermal management standards.

Formulation, Quality & Cross-Functional Support

• Maintain and improve product specifications, test methods, quality control procedures, and formulation records across all coolant product lines.
• Support scale-up, production trials, batch manufacturing root-cause investigations.
• Prepare technical reports, product recommendations, test summaries, and corrective-action documentation.
• Monitor competitive products, emerging cooling technologies, and industry trends across engine and data center markets.
• Support product stewardship: SDS review, labeling, regulatory compliance, and safe-handling guidance.
• Collaborate across quality, production, engineering, sales, and supply chain to ensure products are manufactured and applied correctly.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in chemistry, electrochemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering, with a research or applied focus in corrosion science, surface chemistry, or inhibitor chemistry. Exceptional candidates with a Master's degree and substantial directly relevant industry experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated expertise in corrosion mechanisms and inhibitor chemistry, with hands-on formulation or evaluation experience across OAT, HOAT, and/or inorganic inhibitor packages.
• Working knowledge of glycol-based heat transfer fluids (ethylene glycol and propylene glycol systems) and their performance, compatibility, and degradation behavior.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant industry standards (ASTM, NACE/AMPP, ASHRAE, ISO, or OEM specifications).
• Proven ability to communicate technical findings with authority to both technical and non-technical audiences, including customers, field engineers, and internal leadership.
• Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills, with a track record of resolving complex fluid chemistry or product performance issues.
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally across manufacturing, sales, engineering, and customer-facing teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in heavy-duty or automotive engine cooling, OEM coolant approval processes, or additive chemistry for industrial coolant applications.
• Experience with data center liquid cooling, direct-to-chip fluids, closed-loop HVAC chemistry, or industrial process cooling.
• Familiarity with fuel cell or EV thermal management — where automotive durability requirements meet high-purity, low-conductivity fluid chemistry.
• Experience testing corrosion protection across mixed-metal systems: copper, brass, aluminum, cast iron, steel, stainless steel, and solder alloys.
• Proficiency with analytical techniques such as titration, ICP, ion chromatography, FTIR, GC, pH/conductivity analysis, refractometry, and microbiological screening.
• Experience in customer technical service, field troubleshooting, or OEM technical account support.
• Familiarity with Open Compute Project (OCP), ASHRAE data center cooling standards, or similar industry consortia.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is based at Dober headquarters in Woodridge, IL, and combines laboratory work, technical documentation, and close collaboration with manufacturing and commercial teams. Travel to customer sites, Dober manufacturing locations, and industry events is expected. Participation in external technical forums and industry committee meetings is part of the role.