Location: Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Work Arrangement: Onsite, laboratory-based
Employment Type: Full-time, permanent
Industry: Specialty Chemicals, Adhesives and Advanced Materials
Base Salary: $130,000–$160,000
Travel: Up to 10%
Relocation Assistance: Possible for an exceptional candidate
Visa Sponsorship: Not available
Management Responsibility: Not required
Position Overview
A global specialty-chemicals and advanced-materials organization is seeking an accomplished Principal Epoxy Chemist to lead the development and commercialization of innovative 1K and 2K epoxy adhesive systems.
The role focuses particularly on UV/light-stable epoxy formulations for outdoor applications requiring long-term durability, weatherability and resistance to sunlight and environmental degradation. Experience limited to UV-curable adhesives or coatings will not satisfy this requirement.
Key Responsibilities
• Design, formulate and optimize advanced 1K and 2K epoxy adhesive systems.
• Lead development of UV/light-stable formulations for outdoor applications.
• Improve resistance to sunlight, heat, moisture and environmental exposure.
• Select and evaluate epoxy resins, hardeners, curing agents, catalysts, accelerators, fillers, tougheners and stabilizers.
• Apply structure-property relationships to optimize adhesion, cure, strength, toughness and durability.
• Design experiments, analyze results and establish technically sound conclusions.
• Lead product-development programs from feasibility through testing, scale-up, manufacturing transfer and commercial launch.
• Define performance specifications and validate products against customer and application requirements.
• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, marketing, regulatory and commercial teams.
• Troubleshoot formulation, scale-up, processing and customer-application issues.
• Generate intellectual property, invention disclosures and technical documentation.
• Mentor junior scientists and provide technical leadership across global project teams.
Required Qualifications
• Advanced degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science or a related discipline, or equivalent extensive industry experience.
• Deep professional experience developing epoxy adhesive systems.
• Demonstrated formulation expertise with 1K and 2K epoxies.
• Direct experience developing epoxy systems that remain stable under UV/light exposure.
• Strong understanding of polymer chemistry, curing mechanisms, degradation and stabilization.
• Experience taking products from laboratory concept through scale-up and commercialization.
• Strong experimental design, data analysis and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead complex programs without formal management authority.
• Excellent written, verbal and technical-presentation skills.
• Current authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with structural adhesives used outdoors or in demanding industrial environments.
• Knowledge of rheology, thermal analysis, spectroscopy, mechanical testing and accelerated weathering.
• Patent, publication or intellectual-property experience.
• Experience collaborating with customers and global technical teams.
Equal Opportunity
The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without discrimination based on any status protected by applicable law.