R&D Engineer / Scientist

Nylon Lead R&D Scientist (Polymer Chemistry & Process Technology Focus)

Position Summary

The Nylon Lead R&D Scientist serves as a technical leader drivingpolymer chemistry innovation and process technology advancement for nylon (polyamide) systems. This role is responsible for developing deep molecular-level understanding and translating it intorobust, scalable process solutions that improve manufacturing performance, product quality, and cost competitiveness.

Secondary responsibilities includenew product development (NPD) and commercialization aligned with business strategy, with a strong emphasis onaccelerating research cycles through advanced data analytics and AI-enabled experimentation.

Core Responsibilities

1. Polymer Chemistry Leadership (Primary Focus)

• Lead design and execution ofpolyamide synthesis reactions, including batch and continuous polymerization systems.
• Develop deep understanding ofstructure–property relationships to tailor polymer performance for target applications.
• Apply advanced analytical techniques (e.g., rheology, DSC, GPC, IR, NMR) to characterize materials and guide decision-making.
• Drive innovation inpolymer modification, copolymerization, and additive incorporation to enable differentiated products.
• Serve as subject matter expert inpolyamide chemistry, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry across the organization.

2. Process Technology & Scale-Up (Primary Focus)

• Lead development and optimization ofpolymerization and downstream processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, molding).
• Translate laboratory discoveries intopilot and commercial-scale processes, ensuring consistency, yield, and cost efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership inprocess modeling, troubleshooting, and process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with plant, engineering, and production teams to:
• • Improveconversion efficiency, throughput, and energy intensity
  • Resolveprocess limitations and variability
  • Enablereliable and repeatable manufacturing performance
• Apply statistical tools (Six Sigma, DOE) to driveprocess robustness and variability reduction.

3. AI-Enabled Experimental Design & Research Acceleration (Key Differentiator)

• Leverageartificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools to:
• • Design optimizedDesigns of Experiments (DOE)
  • Identify critical variables and interactions faster than traditional approaches
  • Predict polymer properties and process outcomes
• Develop and deploydata-driven experimentation frameworks to reduce research cycle time and increase success rates.
• Integrateexperimental data, process data, and analytical results into predictive models that guide decision-making.
• Continuously improve R&D efficiency through:
• • Automated data analysis workflows
  • Digital lab tools and experiment tracking systems
• Demonstrated history of usingadvanced analytics or AI methods to accelerate root cause analysis and experimental iteration cycles (aligned with structured DOE approaches observed internally).

4. New Product Development & Commercialization (Secondary Focus)

• Lead development ofnew nylon materials and applications, from concept through commercialization.
• Partner with marketing, commercial, and customer teams to translatevoice-of-customer (VOC) into technical solutions.
• Drive Stage-Gate execution for NPD projects, including:
• • Feasibility studies
  • Pilot validation
  • Scale-up and commercialization
• Deliver differentiated products aligned withmarket needs and profitability targets.

5. Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead cross-functional teams acrossR&D, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, and Commercial organizations.
• Mentor and develop scientists and engineers inpolymer science and process technology disciplines.
• Serve as atechnical advisor for complex problem solving, including customer issues and plant challenges.
• Contribute tointellectual property development, including patents and trade secrets.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. (preferred) or Master’s degree inPolymer Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience inpolymer R&D, with emphasis on polyamide (nylon) systems.
• Demonstrated experience in:
• • Polymer synthesis and characterization
  • Process development and scale-up
  • Commercialization of new materials

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise inpolyamide chemistry and polymerization processes.
• Experience withpolymer processing technologies (extrusion, compounding, molding).
• Proven track record ofleading successful R&D projects and delivering commercial outcomes.
• Experience integratingAI/ML, advanced analytics, or digital tools into R&D workflows.
• Six Sigma or statistical modeling experience forDOE and process optimization.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with ability to influence stakeholders.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Lead withpolymer chemistry depth and process technology rigor
• Translate science intoscalable, reliable manufacturing solutions
• UseAI-driven experimentation to accelerate innovation cycles
• Delivermeasurable business impact through both process improvements and new product commercialization

The base salary range for this role is: $95,000 to $142,600 annually.