R&D Scientist

About the role

We are looking for an R&D Scientist to join our Performance Materials team in Wyandotte. The Performance Materials division is at the forefront of the sustainability transformation in plastics, co-creating products with customers for sectors such as transportation, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. These solutions advance sustainability by pushing the boundaries in thermal resistance, robustness, and lightweight applications.

In this role, you will leverage your polymer chemistry or materials science background to work closely with business and commercial colleagues to develop robust business cases, align priorities, and drive projects through the lab with clarity, discipline, and energy. You will play a key role in shaping project direction from the outset, ensuring objectives are well defined, timelines are realistic, and stakeholder expectations are aligned.

Responsibilities

• Own projects from concept through execution with clear accountability, strong planning, and disciplined follow-through
• Partner with business and commercial colleagues to develop compelling business cases, align stakeholders, and move projects forward with momentum
• Deliver high-quality execution in the lab, communicate clearly and consistently, and proactively identify risks and timing challenges before they become issues
• Listen to customers, understand their needs, and translate those needs into robust product solutions
• Apply chemistry know-how and extrusion and injection molding experience to support product development
• Provide clear, regular project updates to management and cross-functional colleagues
• Envision technical solutions holistically across formulation, manufacturing, processing, and application functionality
• Leverage site resources and R&D community knowledge to achieve technical objectives and project goals
• Build strong business cases with business and commercial colleagues
• Translate objectives into realistic timelines and clear deliverables
• Anticipate risks, dependencies, and resource needs early
• Maintain focus and discipline to minimize scope creep and keep projects on track
• Reinforce a culture of behavior-based safety and champion a Zero Incident mindset while maintaining a safe working environment

Requirements

• PhD in chemistry, polymer science, or materials science and professional background, or equivalent blend of knowledge and experience
• Proven project management experience from early-stage concept through execution
• Strong ability to articulate the unique value proposition of a proposed project to support a business case calculation
• Excellent timeline planning, prioritization, and execution discipline and sense of accountability
• Clear, consistent communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to foresee risks, dependencies, and the need for additional time or resources early
• Discipline to manage scope effectively and minimize scope creep
• Experience coordinating technical work in a lab or R&D environment is compulsory