Product Development Scientific Associate Location: Lexington, MassachusettsEmployment Type: Full-Time, PermanentWork Arrangement: Onsite – 5 Days per WeekTravel: OccasionalWe are seeking an experienced Scientific Associate – Product Development to support new product development initiatives within an advanced materials and adhesive technologies environment.
This position focuses on developing innovative coating technologies, formulating and optimizing coating systems, conducting product stability and performance testing, and supporting new technology initiatives.
The successful candidate will work with cross-functional teams to develop new approaches, solutions, processes, and products while ensuring compliance with applicable chemical health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
The role requires strong technical expertise in advanced coating technologies, polymer and surface science, nanomaterials, materials characterization, and statistical product development methodologies.Required Qualifications
- Master's degree or PhD in one of the following disciplines:
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
- Related scientific or engineering discipline
- 7–10 years of relevant industry experience.
- Strong knowledge of advanced coating technologies.
- Understanding of polymer and surface science.
- Experience formulating and optimizing coating systems.
- Knowledge of nanomaterials and nanoparticle-enabled coating technologies.
- Proficiency in surface analysis and performance testing.
- Experience applying statistical analysis and Design of Experiments (DOE).
- Experience with materials characterization techniques.
- Ability and willingness to work onsite five days per week in Lexington, MA.
Technical Skills and Preferred Expertise
1. Advanced Coating Technologies
- Functional coatings.
- Protective coatings.
- Sol-gel systems.
- UV-curable materials.
- Hybrid organic-inorganic coatings.
2. Polymer and Surface Science
- Polymer chemistry.
- Crosslinking mechanisms.
- Surface energy.
- Interfacial interactions.
- Substrate preparation.
- Coating adhesion performance.
3. Formulation and Optimization
- Coating formulation and optimization.
- Rheology.
- Adhesion performance evaluation.
- Nanomaterial and nanoparticle-enabled coating formulations.
4. Surface Analysis and Performance Testing
- Contact angle measurement.
- Environmental exposure testing.
- Coating durability testing.
- Product stability testing.
- Product performance evaluation.
5. Materials Characterization
Experience with one or more of the following:
- SEM – Scanning Electron Microscopy.
- AFM – Atomic Force Microscopy.
- Optical Microscopy.
- FTIR – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.
- DSC – Differential Scanning Calorimetry.
- TGA – Thermogravimetric Analysis.
6. Statistical Analysis
- Statistical analysis.
- Design of Experiments (DOE).
- Product development and process optimization.
- Experimental design and interpretation.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is an experienced scientist or product development professional with a strong background in advanced coatings, polymer chemistry, surface science, and materials characterization.
Candidates should have hands-on experience developing and optimizing coating formulations, conducting stability and durability testing, applying DOE methodologies, and evaluating material performance.
Experience with sol-gel systems, UV-curable materials, hybrid organic-inorganic coatings, nanomaterials, and analytical techniques such as SEM, AFM, FTIR, DSC, and TGA will be particularly valuable.
The successful candidate should be comfortable working in a laboratory and product development environment, collaborating with Manufacturing and Quality teams, and managing technical projects from development through evaluation.