Research Fellow

About the role

Seeking a high-impact Technical Director/Research Fellow to lead advanced product development, material chemistry, and process innovation across our commercial roofing and building envelope portfolio. This role bridges the gap between fundamental polymer science and industrial scale-up, serving as both a primary R&D innovator and a senior technical authority for manufacturing plant operations. The ideal candidate brings deep material science and process expertise across polyisocyanurate rigid foam, TPO, PVC, polyurethane (PU/TPU), and CASE. You will be responsible for translating market requirements into first-to-market commercial platforms, while providing hands-on root-cause failure analysis (RCFA) and line optimization on the plant floor.

Responsibilities

• Advanced Formulation & Product Development: Lead R&D initiatives in Polyiso/EPS rigid foam insulation, TPO single-ply systems, and liquid-applied coatings/adhesives
• Process Technology & Scale-Up Integration: Partner with engineering teams on technology transfers from lab-scale synthesis through pilot line runs and full-scale commercial manufacturing
• Predictive & Digital R&D Workflows: Drive integration of predictive modeling tools (FEA), AI-driven material and process modeling, and digital analytics into R&D processes to optimize process and accelerate product launch
• IP Generation & Pipeline Management: Drive early-stage concepts to build patentable intellectual property, establishing long-term competitive differentiation and high-margin product platforms.
• Root-Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA): Serve as the principal technical contact to diagnose and resolve complex material defects, cure/mixing instabilities, crosslinking optimization, delamination issues, thermal stability analysis, viscoelastic behavior and melt fracture elimination
• Process Window Optimization: Partner with plant engineering to establish tight process windows, optimize line speeds, improve mix ratios, and integrate automated process controls without sacrificing product performance or yield.
• Material Qualification and Process Specification: Collaborate with Procurement, Quality, and Operations to formulate and execute lab-to-plant qualification protocols for alternative raw materials to optimize raw material P&L without compromising performance and translating material characterization data into strict plant process specifications
• Industry Standards & Building Codes: Ensure all new formulations and structural modifications strictly comply with industry standards including ASTM, FM Global (wind uplift/fire resistance), UL, and Miami-Dade protocols.
• Open Innovation & Vendor Partnerships: Build strategic alliances with suppliers, university research labs, and external test facilities to leverage innovative commercial offerings to accelerate new product development, optimize materials and processes
• Technical Mentorship: Mentor and develop junior scientists, process engineers, and lab technicians, promoting scientific rigor, structured experimental design, and analytical testing excellence.
• Demonstrate a commitment to communicating, improving and adhering to health, safety and environmental policies in all work environments and areas. Promote a culture of safety and exhibit these behaviors.

Requirements

• Degree: Ph.D. or MS in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Organic Chemistry