Advanced Chemist

Interplastic Corporation • Fort Wright, KY

7h

About The Position

INTERPLASTIC CORPORATION is one of the four operating companies under IP Corporation, a privately held, family-owned chemical manufacturing group with more than 60 years of industry leadership. Interplastic is the leading manufacturer of unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester, and specialty resins, gel coats, colorants, and putties under the CoREZYN® and Silmar® brand names for the composites, cast polymer, and solid surface industries.

As a pioneer in cutting-edge polymer technology, we continuously innovate to meet the evolving needs of the composites industry. All of our manufacturing facilities and R&D laboratories are ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified, reinforcing our commitment to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.

We are seeking a highly skilled Advanced Chemist to join our Research & Development team and drive high-level innovation within our technology portfolio.

As an Advanced Chemist, you will lead complex research and development initiatives involving polymer chemistry, resin technology, coatings, and composite material performance. You will serve as a technical expert for advanced product development, scale-ups, competitive benchmarking, and field trial support while contributing to the future technical direction of Interplastic’s product lines.

Requirements

• BS/BA in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering; MS/PhD strongly preferred
• 5+ years of industrial experience in polymer chemistry, formulation development, coatings, or composite materials
• Demonstrated expertise in experimental design, statistical analysis, and R&D project management
• Strong knowledge of thermoset resin systems (polyesters, vinyl esters, epoxies, gel coats, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with polymer/material characterization techniques (DSC, DMA, TGA, rheology, FTIR, mechanical testing, etc.)
• Excellent technical communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced R&D environment
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and pass a respirator fit test

Nice To Haves

• Experience with gel coats, colorants, fillers, and composite material formulation
• Knowledge of surface science, coating performance, and adhesion mechanisms
• Familiarity with cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), trenchless technologies, or similar processes
• Experience scaling formulations from lab to plant
• Track record of developing patentable formulations, processes, or technologies
• Experience mentoring or leading technical teams

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute advanced R&D projects involving polymer synthesis, formulation design, materials characterization, and performance optimization
• Develop new resin systems, gel coats, colorants, and composite materials aligned with customer needs and long-term innovation strategy
• Conduct high-level competitive analysis to identify differentiation and improvement opportunities
• Provide expert technical troubleshooting and work directly with Chemists, Maintenance, and Management to resolve product performance challenges
• Support scale-up activities, pilot trials, and full manufacturing transitions of new or improved formulations
• Utilize DOE, statistical methods, and scientific methodologies to design and evaluate experimental plans
• Prepare and deliver technical reports, presentations, and data summaries to leadership and cross-functional partners
• Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient laboratory working environment
• Mentor and support chemists, technicians, and junior team members in experimental design and technical execution
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation and contribute to intellectual property development

Benefits

• Part of IP Corporation, a stable, family-owned organization with 60+ years of success
• Opportunity to drive high-impact innovation and influence future product development
• Collaborative, technically strong environment with cross-functional support
• Competitive pay and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, PTO, and 401(k) with company match
• A culture that values innovation, problem-solving, and continuous improvement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level