510 Development Chemist jobs in the United States

• Contribute to the full product lifecycle-from ideation to commercialization-including new product development and technology transfers from regional labs.
• Conduct performance testing in accordance with ASTM and ISO standards, follow and develop experimental procedures, and generate reliable data to support product innovation.
• Work closely with internal teams (e.g., R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, sales) and external partners (e.g., customers, third-party labs) to align technical efforts with business goals.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, EH&S standards, and regulatory requirements; support formula implementation and management in SAP systems.
• Utilize knowledge of coating chemistries and statistical tools (e.g., JMP, Six Sigma) to improve formulation processes and product performance.
• Present findings through clear reports and presentations, and engage with stakeholders to support product launches, field support, and customer interactions, including occasional travel.
• Plan, coordinate, and lead independent and collaborative technical projects, delivering innovative solutions to complex formulation and performance challenges.

• Ph.D. degree in a scientific / engineering subject area OR a Master's degree in a scientific / engineering subject area with 3+ years of experience OR a Bachelor's degree in a scientific / engineering subject area with 6+ years of experience is required.
• Prior formulation experience in coatings or sealants is preferred

As a Product Development Chemist in our Protective and Marine Coatings division, you will play a crucial role in advancing our Flooring, atmospheric protection, polyurea and polyurethane product lines. We are looking for an experienced chemist to join our team and not only develop new products, but develop expertise in existing technologies and products, offer manufacturing and QC support, lead projects and contribute innovative solutions to challenging technical problems.

In this role, you will be at the forefront of developing and commercializing cutting-edge coatings that meet rigorous industry standards. Your expertise will be vital in contributing to new product development from ideation to full commercialization as well as assisting in managing the localization of various protective coatings from other regions globally. Plant and business support, handling requests from the commercial team in a timely manner, will all be critical parts of the role.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work on product formulation while interacting with various other business functions such as manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, sales, and other global development labs. As an experienced chemist, you will collaborate with and help mentor other technicians/chemists, helping to guide the team towards achieving our goals. You will also be involved in designing and conducting experiments, maintaining safety standards, reviewing intellectual property, and taking part in stage-gate activities. There will also be the opportunity to periodically travel and engage with manufacturing or customer sites for product scale-ups, customer meetings, and product deployments.

Join us in this exciting role and make a significant impact on the future of protective and marine coatings.

You will work onsite at our Harmar, PA facility and report directly to the Manager, S&T Product Development.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the full product lifecyclefrom ideation to commercializationincluding new product development and technology transfers from regional labs.
• Conduct performance testing in accordance with ASTM and ISO standards, follow and develop experimental procedures, and generate reliable data to support product innovation.
• Work closely with internal teams (e.g., R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, sales) and external partners (e.g., customers, third-party labs) to align technical efforts with business goals.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, EH&S standards, and regulatory requirements; support formula implementation and management in SAP systems.
• Utilize knowledge of coating chemistries and statistical tools (e.g., JMP, Six Sigma) to improve formulation processes and product performance.
• Present findings through clear reports and presentations, and engage with stakeholders to support product launches, field support, and customer interactions, including occasional travel.
• Plan, coordinate, and lead independent and collaborative technical projects, delivering innovative solutions to complex formulation and performance challenges.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in a scientific / engineering subject area OR a Master's degree in a scientific / engineering subject area with 3+ years of experience OR a Bachelor's degree in a scientific / engineering subject area with 6+ years of experience is required.
• Prior formulation experience in coatings or sealants is preferred.

With our strong investment in research and development and our culture of continuous improvement, Hexcel is the industry leader in the manufacturing of advance composite materials, including carbon fiber, woven reinforcements, resins, prepregs, honeycombs and additive manufactured parts. We invite you to join the Hexcel team at various manufacturing sites, sales offices, and R&T centers around the globe. Become a part of the "strength within."

Hexcel is currently seeking a Polymer Development Chemist for our Decatur, AL, USA location.

The selected individual will be responsible for but not limited to the following obligations:

• Work as key member of PAN precursor/carbon fiber research team to combine skills required to advance performance and reduce costs of carbon fiber products.
• Develop and apply laboratory synthetic routes, formulation, and characterization methods to sustain chemical advances for polyacrylonitrile precursor and carbon fiber.
• Evaluate scale-up feasibility of developed chemistry from bench to pilot plant to industrial scale.
• Maintain a knowledge of plant manufacturing processes and participate on teams to solve plant problems or upgrade plant capabilities, as necessary.
• Maintain awareness of the technical literature in the field and recommend new work based on knowledge of this literature and/or competitive situation.
• Analyze, interpret, and document experimental results in monthly reports. Clearly communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure all laboratory practices comply with safety protocols and environmental regulations.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, or other highly related field with a demonstrated technical mastery of molecular design and synthesis of polymeric materials. Ability to elucidate chemical mechanisms and working knowledge of advanced analytical techniques is also required.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial research experience focused on polymer chemistry. Experience with synthetic fiber spinning, polyacrylonitrile, and/or carbon fiber is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of technical curiosity, hands-on experimental work, and ability to translate data into actionable insights, leading to innovation and solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to translate laboratory-scale insights to pilot and commercial scale. Direct experience conducting trials in a laboratory, pilot plant, and plant environments is highly desirable.
• Possesses a deep understanding of fundamental physical/chemical properties and structure-property relationships. Ability to conduct complex chemical experiments is a must.
• Strong project management skills with a demonstrated ability to work both as an individual contributor and as a cross-functional team member managing multiple projects.

Eligible candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, person lawfully admitted for permanent residence, temporary resident under sections 210(a) or 245(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, person admitted in refugee status, or person granted asylum. Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) is a global leader in advanced composites technology, a leading producer of carbon fiber, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry.

Hexcel is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected class.

1. Checks reactor system for proper operation in accordance with SOP and/or operation manual.
2. Under occasional and necessary supervision and direction, measures and mixes ingredients according to the BPR (Batch Production Record).
3. During processing, monitors chemical reactions (color and completeness of chemical reactions) and under occasional and necessary direction of supervision responds with appropriate actions to ensure proper processing.
4. Using established procedures (safety and process) and under occasional and necessary supervision, performs intermediate chemical processing steps.
5. Prepares solutions for purification.
6. Under occasional supervision, purifies crude peptide by using HPLC's.
7. Conducts lyophilization process according established guidelines.
8. Performs drying processes in accordance with established processes and procedures.
9. Performs in-process checking of the fractions by using analytical HPLC and reports results to supervision and/or Sr. Development Chemist personnel.
10. Makes basic "Go - No Go" processing decisions.
11. Reports any significant problems or issues regarding equipment used in processing to supervision. May perform basic and/or general machine/equipment troubleshooting.
12. Is responsible for maintaining high safety, housekeeping and cleanliness standards.
13. Performs any and all additional duties as required for this position.

• Required Education:
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry or chemical engineering
• Experience:
• 2+ years of professional experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology laboratory.

• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in HPLC systems,
• cGMP processes
• Soft Skills:
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office suite of applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.)
• Ability to work as part of a team and also independently with minimal to no supervision
• Ability to rapidly change focus during times of shifting or changing priorities
• Impeccable technical writing skills with extreme attention to detail, specifically the lexicology and grammatology of written English text as applied to technical writing
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and communication skills

• Competencies:
  • Chemical Process Execution and Monitoring
  • Proficiency in HPLC and Peptide Purification Techniques
  • cGMP Compliance and Documentation Accuracy
  • Attention to Detail and Technical Writing
  • Adaptability and Team Collaboration

• Prolonged sitting or standing, depending on the role.
• Frequent movement between work areas and occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
• Performing repetitive tasks, including pipetting, weighing, and data entry.
• Use of hands for data entry, equipment operation, or laboratory tasks.
• Exposure to chemicals, equipment noise, or temperature-controlled environments in lab or production settings.
• Occasional evening, weekend, or overtime hours to meet production or testing deadlines.
• Reasonable accommodations will be made as needed.

• Develop and optimize synthetic routes for chemical compounds.
• Conduct laboratory experiments to improve reaction efficiency, yield, and purity.
• Perform process safety assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
• Investigate and resolve process-related challenges during development and scale-up.
• Collaborate with chemical engineers on process scale-up activities.
• Utilize Design of Experiments (DoE) for process optimization.
• Characterize reaction products and impurities using analytical techniques.
• Document experimental procedures, results, and process parameters thoroughly.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Participate in technology transfer to pilot plant and manufacturing operations.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process chemistry or synthetic route development.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of organic synthesis.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and analytical instrumentation (e.g., HPLC, GC, NMR, Mass Spec).
• Familiarity with process safety principles and hazard assessment.
• Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in scientific literature searching and data analysis.
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical or fine chemical industry is a plus.

• Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot synthetic chemical processes for new and existing products.
• Conduct laboratory-scale experiments to investigate reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and catalysis.
• Scale up chemical processes from benchtop to pilot plant, addressing engineering and safety considerations.
• Utilize process analytical technology (PAT) and statistical experimental design (DoE) to enhance process understanding and efficiency.
• Characterize reaction products and intermediates using analytical techniques such as GC, HPLC, NMR, and MS.
• Write detailed experimental procedures, process descriptions, and technical reports.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D scientists, chemical engineers, and manufacturing personnel, to ensure successful process implementation.
• Identify and implement innovative process improvements to reduce costs, improve yields, and minimize environmental impact.
• Ensure all laboratory work is conducted safely and in compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Evaluate new raw materials and alternative synthetic routes.
• Prepare data packages for process validation and regulatory submissions.

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering with a strong emphasis on synthetic chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development, preferably in the specialty chemical or pharmaceutical industry.
• Hands-on experience with organic synthesis, reaction optimization, and scale-up.
• Proficiency in modern analytical instrumentation (GC, HPLC, NMR, MS).
• Familiarity with process safety principles and hazard analysis.
• Experience with statistical software and Design of Experiments (DoE).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

• Design and execute laboratory experiments to optimize chemical reaction conditions, yields, and purity.
• Develop scalable and robust chemical processes suitable for pilot plant and commercial manufacturing.
• Perform process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement safety measures for chemical processes.
• Conduct kinetic studies and reaction mechanism investigations to improve process understanding.
• Identify and evaluate alternative reagents, catalysts, and solvents to enhance process efficiency and sustainability.
• Operate and troubleshoot pilot plant equipment and instrumentation.
• Analyze process data using statistical methods and process analytical technology (PAT).
• Collaborate with engineering teams to design and implement new process equipment and modifications.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for in-process control and product quality testing.
• Author detailed process development reports, including material and energy balances.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EPA) and company safety standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues encountered during process scale-up and manufacturing.
• Stay current with advancements in chemical engineering, process chemistry, and analytical techniques.
• Mentor junior chemists and engineers on process development principles.
• Contribute to the intellectual property portfolio through invention disclosures and patent applications.

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development, chemical synthesis, or scale-up within the chemical or pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong knowledge of organic chemistry, reaction kinetics, and thermodynamics.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory and pilot plant operations.
• Familiarity with process safety principles and hazard analysis techniques.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, NMR, and MS.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of chemical process simulation software is a plus.

• Design and conduct experiments to optimize reaction conditions, yields, and purity of chemical products.
• Scale-up chemical processes from laboratory bench to pilot plant and commercial production.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using various analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, GC, NMR, Mass Spectrometry).
• Identify and troubleshoot process-related issues, implementing effective solutions.
• Develop and validate new analytical methods.
• Collaborate with chemical engineers and other scientists to ensure seamless process integration.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, presentations, and documentation for process development and regulatory submissions.
• Ensure all laboratory activities comply with safety regulations and good laboratory practices (GLP).
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in chemical synthesis and process development.
• Contribute to intellectual property development through patent filings.

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with a focus on process development.
• 5+ years of experience in process chemistry or chemical process development, preferably in the pharmaceutical or fine chemical industry.
• Extensive knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry and reaction mechanisms.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment and analytical instrumentation.
• Familiarity with scale-up principles and pilot plant operations.
• Strong understanding of process safety and hazard analysis.
• Excellent data analysis, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Proficiency in scientific writing and reporting.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.