Americas

Senior Scientist

Job Location: Americas

Job Category: Technology

Job Schedule: Full Time

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We have a great opportunity for a Senior Scientist to join the Global Research & Development (R&D) organization for our Digital Printing segment.

 Informed by important market needs and new trends, you will develop waterborne product prototypes through your ability to connect structure/property fundamentals with novel product functionality.

 Your mindset for identifying problems and creating solutions will fuel a “reason to believe” for the novel functional benefits to be provided by Michelman materials in a way which will help accelerate the growth of the Digital Printing segment.

 Excellent problem-solving skills and creativity will be essential to your success as they will allow you to quickly screen new technologies and materials for fit both with the market and with Michelman. Further, it will be essential that you develop a strong collaborative network with other groups including sales, technology, marketing, and manufacturing teams to convert those novel concepts into successful product platforms.

Expect to become a go-to resource – for both internal and external customers – as it relates to optimizing coating performance in Digital Printing end use application(s).

Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with sales and marketing to develop actionable problem statements based both on trends in the market and on latent customer needs
• Lead in the development of new materials and processes which will enable Michelman to develop novel application-centric solutions for Digital Printing customers, and more specifically for Liquid Electrophotographic (LEP) Electroinks
• Design new (and sometimes complex) product development experiments to be conducted at the lab scale – either by you or by others
• Build significant expertise in coatings application methods and performance tests which will enable the development of new product concepts
• Partner with global engineering/manufacturing teams to ensure efficient and effective scale-up of product prototypes of interest to the business/market
• Establish relationships with suppliers, customers/prospects, and industry organizations which allow for sharing Michelman insights to strengthen technical/market leadership positions
• Represent Michelman technologies and solutions at key conferences, as needed

• Develop new product prototypes by iteratively preparing lab scale batches for evaluation and then testing them against market-relevant success criteria/controls
• Develop a basic understanding of chemistries, technologies, and applications of importance to other Michelman business groups to identify potential product translations
• Develop a basic understanding of the regulatory environment as it impacts Michelman raw materials and products and communicate those requirements both internally and externally
• Document thoroughly and accurately all experiments, analyses, and testing results

• Ensure timely delivery of project-related information/results to company partners
• Plan, initiate, and execute projects using the Michelman project management process
• Provide reports (written and verbal) on technical results/conclusions to business and technology leadership
• Build an effective collaboration with the global technical team to enable a culture of idea exchange and knowledge transfer
• Multiply your individual expertise by drafting effective and easily-understood user guidelines for Michelman’s products – both as “application ready” solutions and as additives to be formulated with other materials
• Provide technical leadership for customer trials
• Provide training to ensure that both colleagues and customers remain up-to-date on relevant product, application, and market issues
• Provide guidance/coaching to other associates in the Digital Printing technology organization
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment

Critical Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent analytical and observation skills
• Extensive experience developing waterborne products, additives, and/or formulations for Digital Printing applications and demonstrating their value in downstream end-uses
• Demonstrated track record of innovation, technology scouting, and/or process/product prototyping is highly desirable
• Deep understanding of the range of substrates to be coated in Digital Printing applications and the methods used to apply coatings to them
• Experience having led projects within a stage-gate project management framework – including the development of project charters and subsequent reports required for communicating with key stakeholders
• Agility/flexibility to adapt to changing business priorities and to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
• Ability to develop/assess new-to-the-organization materials/processes as needed to address technical challenges and train others (as needed) in their effective use
• Understanding of the steps required in order to effectively transition laboratory materials/processes to a manufacturing environment
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer/Materials Science, or related field and at least ten (10) years of relevant experience. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of industrial experience with a proven track record of developing waterborne products, additives, and/or formulations for Digital Printing applications

Other

• Able to travel by car or plane to visit customers when needed
• Role may on occasion require long periods of standing and/or an extended work schedule
• Role may require heavy lifting from time to time (as much as 50 lbs. to waist level)
• Role will demand appropriate use of PPE - including safety shoes

Note: The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the job. They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

About Michelman

Michelman is proud of the values-focused work environment that we have crafted. We pride ourselves in our focus on our values of integrity, respect, and success. With our dedication to your technical and professional growth in addition to our rigorous onboarding experience, we guarantee that you will find yourself challenged in new ways. We offer an excellent salary, incentive and benefits package in a dynamic, empowered team environment.

For more information about Michelman, please visit https://www.michelman.com/.

It is Michelman, Inc. policy to seek and employ qualified persons in all jobs in a manner which will ensure equal employment opportunity as well as administer personnel actions in a manner as to not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Michelman is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans

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