Development Chemist

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and synthesis of new, high-performance battery separator materials (polyethylene, silica-filled materials, and AGM) to meet emerging market needs.
• Optimize manufacturing processes including extrusion, pore formation, and coating technologies to enhance separator permeability, mechanical strength, and electrical resistance.
• Utilize Design of Experiments (DOE) to structure and execute comprehensive testing protocols to evaluate separator-level attributes (surface chemistry, wettability, pore structure) and their impact on cell performance.
• Lead programs for incremental product and quality improvement using tools; DOE, problem solving tools such as root cause analysis and EVOP (evolutionary optimization).
• Collaborate with cell developers to integrate new separators into prototype cells, conducting abusive, electrochemical, and life-cycle tests to validate improvements.
• Evaluate separator performance focusing on ER, acid displacement, dendrite suppression, and oxidation stability.
• Utilize advanced analytical equipment (FIB-SEM, CT scanning, mercury porosimetry) to analyze material microstructure and failure mechanisms.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Manufacturing, Sales, Quality) to transfer new products from the laboratory into pilot-scale and commercial production.
• Write detailed technical reports, SOPs, and conference materials (presentations, technical papers, etc.), and present research findings to stakeholders.
• Awareness of the patent landscape, ensure programs are safe to run to product fruition, which leads to unique solutions, to file patents where appropriate to protect MP innovation and IP.
• Lead by example to promote a zero-incident safety culture.
• Ensure strict adherence to safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.
• Promote respect, inclusion, and engagement in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• BS and/or MS degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry
• 5 + years development polymers, porous membranes, or separator technology.
• Polyethylene (PE) separators, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) materials, Silica-filled rubber separators, autoclaved vulcanized rubber separators.
• Strong understanding of polymer physics, surface chemistry, and electrochemical transport mechanisms in porous materials.
• Hands-on capability with extrusion, polymer compounding, and coating technologies.
• Expertise with material characterization tools: SEM, DSC, TGA, Porosimetry, Tensile testers ICP.
• Familiarity with standard global battery testing methods (cycling, EIS, CV), working to American, European and Asian systems as necessary.
• Experience working with technicians, engineers, and operators resolving formulations or process problems on the plant floor.
• Experience using AI-enhanced modeling and high-throughput data analysis to accelerate component optimization is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills, ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to manage NPD projects, and excellent technical communication skills.
• Travel domestically and Internationally to internal plants, customers and conferences.