West Coast Thermoset Composite Tech Service Chemist

CPS, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits: insurance, vacation, 9

401K with bonus plan

Job summary

CPS, Inc. seeks a Technical Service Chemist to travel to customer sites, troubleshoot resin performance in reinforced plastics, and translate needs to R&D. You will lead product trials, provide training, and support new product introductions across Western US states and Western Canada.

A passport and valid status are required, with travel often 30–50%. The role collaborates with commercial, operations, and R&D teams to ensure product approvals and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• B.A. or B.S. in chemistry, chemical engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years related industry experience in polyester and vinyl ester thermoset resins or related chemistries.
• Experience with SAP and Windows/MS Office tools is helpful for daily tasks.

Responsibilities

• Health, Safety and Quality responsibilities under OSHA, DOT, EPA and CHP.
• Provide product recommendations and gather customer process information.
• Train customers and demonstrate product usage at customer sites or facilities.
• Conduct product trials and document performance for feedback to Commercial/R&D.
• Troubleshoot and advise on process and formulation adjustments.
• Prepare call reports and technical correspondence after customer visits.
• Develop knowledge in one or more chemistries or applications and coordinate with other teams.
• Use organizational tools to locate test methods and manage documentation.

Skills

Travel readiness

Customer training

Education

BS in chemistry/engineering

Tools

SAP

Job description

Don’t want to be stuck in the lab? In this exciting position you will travel to customers and solve their manufacturing issues with the resins used in reinforced plastics, including close mold, open mold, laminating, and cast applications. In conjunction with a Sales Rep you’d be troubleshooting, doing new product launches and trials, and translating customer needs to R&D. This role would require 35-50% travel, including to Canada! US Green Card or Citizens only please, must have a current passport.

Travel could be up to 50% or more like 30-40% and it depends on the candidate’s home location, will work with other Sales Rep/Manager during training period. Customers are in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Arizona.

Will work closely with other company functions including commercial, operations and R&D to assist existing and new customers in using their products. This role participates in product recommendations, product testing/benchmarking, training, product trials, process review, and troubleshooting. Technical Assistance provides customers with formal or informal training and is an interface for investigation and communication concerning product complaints. This role directly contributes to their commercial success through achieving product approvals, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. Technical Assistance also provides direction for product development efforts.

The Tech Service Chemist works under the direction of a TA supervisor or mentor and Account Manager. Assignments typically focus on a specific technology area with exposure to other areas, depending on organizational needs, performance, etc. This role will serve the western states and western regions of Canada including Southern & Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Edmonton, and Alberta.

Candidate must be living in the Western region of the US in a close proximity to an airport.

Key Responsibilities:

• Health, Safety and Quality
  • Performs work in accordance with local, state and federal regulations including OSHA, DOT and EPA and the appropriate company Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) ensuring personal and team safety.
  • Recognizes personal and legal responsibility regarding compliance with rules and regulations, standards and company’s ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
  • Maintains housekeeping in individual and shared workspaces.
  • Conducts inspections as assigned.
  • Ensures that others meet health and safety standards. Provides guidance when needed.
  • Leads safety topic(s) in weekly safety meeting.
  • Participates in the following as needed:
    • Health and Safety Committee
    • Review of chemical hygiene plan
    • Job safety analysis (JSA)
    • Risk assessments
    • Incident investigation
    • Management of change (MOC)
• Product Line Knowledge / Product Recommendations
  • Conduct process reviews and gather information from customer including processing parameters, end use requirements including required certifications and usage information (volumes, batch sizes, etc.).
  • Reviews existing products for potential technical fit and considering costs, manufacturing site/logistics, minimum order quantity.
  • Communication recommendations to customers.
  • If no existing product meets the requirements, enters development project as appropriate based on commercial opportunity.
• Training
  • Provides training to customers (either at customer’s location or at facility, or personnel (junior team members, R&D members from other groups, commercial personnel, etc.).
  • Able to do demonstrations as appropriate.
• Product Trials
  • Follow trial product through the customer process and document product performance.
  • Report product performance to appropriate commercial and R&D personnel.
  • Follow up with customer on post-production part testing and provide feedback to appropriate commercial and R&D personnel.
• Process Review / Troubleshooting
  • Identify best practices and poor practices.
  • Communicate strengths and opportunities for improvement to customer.
  • Diagnose routine issues with their products.
  • Execute field adjustments to company products or recommend changes to customer formulations.
• Reporting
  • Write call reports covering customer visits.
  • Write letters covering findings of customer visits.
• Specialization
  • Developing knowledge of a business unit in one or more chemistries, applications / market areas or processes. Making contacts with other company functional groups, suppliers, and customer bases. Learning industry organizations, standards and certifications.
• Organizational Knowledge
  • Able to find / view test methods, work instructions, forms and other documents in organization.
  • Able to find technical documents in the App and Host 2 Bulletin System.
  • Able to enter a project on the Host 2 Project System / RADAR.
  • Able to request physical or analytical testing.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft applications including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Word.
  • Able to book travel and report expenses.
  • Order raw materials and finished goods with supervisor approval as applicable.
  • Order lab supplies with supervisor approval as applicable.
  • Able to find basic information in SAP including, BOM’s, inspection plans, inventories, orders, etc.
  • Able to search Host2 Project System Archives.

Salary

$90,000 - $120,000 + Bonus

Benefits

• Full suite of insurances, Vacation, 401K, Bonus Plan, so much more!

Education and Experience

• B.A. or B.S. in chemistry, chemical engineering or related science / engineering field.
• Minimum of 2 years related industry experience in polyester and vinyl ester thermoset resins, other thermoset resins and/or gel coats.
• If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Stephanie Kemp at [e-mail].

JO: 83.26SK