Lead R&D Chemist – Energetic Materials & Explosives

Location: Galena, KS (ideal for those who love the outdoors; relocation assistance is available)

Job Type: Full-time

About the Role

Our client, UTEC, a leader in the commercial energetic materials and explosives industry, is looking for a Lead R&D Chemist to drive development efforts and support the company’s continued growth. This role combines hands-on scientific expertise with technical leadership, team development, customer engagement, and strategic support across the business. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in energetic materials, commercial explosives, or similarly reactive systems, along with the ability to guide a small technical team (3-5), translate complex concepts for customers and stakeholders, and identify new application opportunities that advance innovation. This is a highly cross-functional role with exposure across multiple industries and applications, partnering with leading organizations in explosives, mining, defense, and energetic materials. It’s a rare chance to shape technical direction, influence product development, and make a meaningful impact in a highly specialized industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead research, development, and improvement of commercial formulations and related products involving energetic materials, explosives, and hazardous chemical systems
• Oversee a small team of scientists, technicians, and laboratory personnel
• Drive formulation development, testing, scale-up activities, and process optimization efforts
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, ATF, environmental, and laboratory safety regulations
• Collaborate with operations and technical personnel to execute customer projects
• Serve as a technical resource for customers; communicating findings, troubleshooting challenges, and identifying potential solutions
• Contribute to project planning, resource allocation, and laboratory priorities
• Drive innovation and commercialization of new applications through customer engagement and technical partnerships

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or physics required
• 7+ years of experience with energetic materials or commercial explosives required
• Strong background with R&D and product development required
• Experience with formulation development, testing, scale-up, and process safety required
• Ability to obtain ATF Employee Possessor status required

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid holidays and PTO
• Profit sharing

Schedule

• 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off

Travel

Occasional domestic travel and rare international travel