The Rubber Chemist will manage research projects and process support.  This includes all aspects of running the rubber manufacturing departments, raw materials (specifications, qualifying new sources and new products), compounding and formulations work, technical specifications and troubleshooting issues that may arise, in order to ensure a consistent high-quality product and system. You will report to the Research and Development Manager.

What you’ll be doing:

• Establish and complete Research and Development projects.
• Projects relate to the generation or modification of formulations using compounding best practices, product specifications and may require the design and execution of experiments that use current instrumentation and techniques to modify, improve or develop company products.
• Projects will identify all aspects critical to quality for the market and customers, selecting raw materials and raw material suppliers, cost reduction by formula modification, developing new products, and issuing product performance specifications.
• This requires lab analysis and production trials, including the generation and maintenance of raw material purchase specifications for polymers and other raw materials and involves choosing raw materials that ensure the processing characteristics and physical performance properties at the highest quality and lowest cost possible.
• Document approved formulas, chemical equivalents for raw materials, etc.
• Establish test protocol requirements to ensure the long-term performance of both the rubber components and the finished field-installed systems.
• Determine predictive tests and working with Quality team to ensure that appropriate tests are used at appropriate frequencies, and that test data for component physical properties, aging and weathering resistance is reviewed routinely to ensure the continued product quality.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing.
• This will require an in-depth knowledge of rubber chemistry, compounding and the ability to search for root cause for production issues.
• A thorough understanding of elastomer interactions in formulation chemistry is required. Maintain a presence in standards organizations such as ASTM Committee D-11 on Rubber.
• 20% travel to other manufacturing sites.

• Bachelor’s degree in Rubber Chemistry; Master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years of rubber compounding experience.
• Broad knowledge of EPDM rubber compounding.