Transportation Polymers R&D Lead | Platform Tech & Scale-up

Americhem; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Americhem, a global designer and manufacturer of color masterbatch and polymer additives, seeks a Research Scientist/Engineer - Transportation to lead development programs for automotive, aerospace, and related markets. You will drive technology platforms, experiments, and scale-up across R&D, manufacturing, and engineering teams.

The role emphasizes collaboration, documentation, and IP stewardship, with travel up to 20% to R&D sites, plants, and customer locations.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and commercializing polymer-based products for transportation markets (auto, aerospace, defense, etc.).
• Hands-on polymer processing, compounding, formulation development, scale-up, and manufacturing support.
• Familiarity with automotive and aerospace specs, weatherable materials, and flame-retardant systems is highly desirable.
• Functional knowledge of DOE, statistical analysis, and data-driven product development is required.
• Strong documentation and IP practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of differentiated technology platforms, including materials, formulations, and additive systems aligned to performance, regulatory, and sustainability goals.
• Drive experimentation, prototyping, testing, qualification, and scale-up in collaboration with Research, Manufacturing, and Engineering.
• Ensure adherence to Management of Change processes.
• Lead and mentor development engineers and specialists deliver projects on time and to quality standards.
• Manage execution through stage-gate processes, milestones, and continuous workflow improvement.
• Partner with Design Teams, Sales, and customers on technology transfer, trials, and application optimization.
• Provide clear project updates through reviews and customer engagements.
• Contribute technical insight to growth strategies, monitor competitive technologies, and support IP initiatives.
• Stay engaged with industry trends and organizations.
• Develop talent, support recruitment, and strengthen technical capabilities.
• Maintain strong documentation and IP practices.
• Integrate sustainability objectives into product and platform design.

Skills

DOE

Statistical analysis

Data-driven development

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Polymer Science / Materials Science / Chemistry

Tools

Twin-screw extrusion

Job description

Americhem, a global designer and manufacturer of color masterbatch and polymer additives, seeks a Research Scientist/Engineer - Transportation to lead development programs for automotive, aerospace, and related markets. You will drive technology platforms, experiments, and scale-up across R&D, manufacturing, and engineering teams.

The role emphasizes collaboration, documentation, and IP stewardship, with travel up to 20% to R&D sites, plants, and customer locations.