Analytical Testing and Application Scientist, Polymer Rheology

ExxonMobil • Spring, TX

16d

About The Position

Leverage expertise in advanced polymer characterization—including rheology, polymer fractionation, thermal analysis, and mechanical analysis—to solve technical challenges, support product innovation, improve manufacturing performance, and enable business growth. Collaborate with product development, manufacturing, commercial, and research teams to understand polymer structure-property-performance relationships and turn analytical findings into business solutions.

Provide technical leadership in polymer characterization, particularly rheological and solid mechanical analysis. Develop, optimize, validate, and implement analytical methods for product development, manufacturing, customer support, and market growth. Serve as a subject matter expert for rheology, polymer fractionation, thermal analysis, and mechanical analysis, including method stewardship, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Use advanced analytical tools to investigate relationships between polymer microstructure and mechanical, rheological, and thermal response. Address technical and customer challenges, identify product differentiation opportunities, evaluate emerging characterization technologies, and provide technical insights and market feedback for future product and technology strategies. Communicate findings to scientific, manufacturing, commercial, and customer audiences, and contribute to intellectual property, publications, and conference presentations.

Requirements

• PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering with a Polymer Physics background.
• At least 5 years of experience in polymer characterization.
• Strong background in structure-property correlations for thermoplastics, thermosets, blends, and block copolymers.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience with rheological instrumentation and testing on thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and blends, using instruments such as rotational rheometers, capillary rheometers, and DMA.
• Strong knowledge of polymer fractionation techniques such as multidetector GPC, TREF, and CFC.
• Strong knowledge of rheological models and theories used to predict processing behavior and end-use product performance.
• Strong knowledge of relationships between polymer microstructure and rheological response.
• Ability to correlate rheological data with processing conditions and end-use product performance.
• Ability to identify root causes of processing issues, including melt fracture, die swell, poor surface finish, degradation, and oxidation.
• Excellent analytical thinking, data interpretation, and scientific problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills.
• Self-motivated and organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in polymer processing operations such as blown-film, cast-film, extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, or compounding.
• Understanding of polymer thermal behavior, including melting, crystallization, degradation, and oxidation, and how to characterize it using DSC and TGA.
• Understanding of characterizing the molecular characteristics of polymers using polymer fractionation techniques.
• Knowledge of industrial polymers such as PE, PP, and EP copolymers and their applications.
• Familiarity with complementary analytical tools such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and microscopy.
• Demonstrated record of patents, publications, and conference presentations.

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced characterization techniques—including rheology, polymer fractionation, thermal analysis, and mechanical analysis—to solve technical challenges, support product innovation, improve manufacturing performance, and enable business growth.
• Collaborate across product development, manufacturing, commercial, and research organizations to generate insights into polymer structure-property-performance relationships and translate findings into business solutions.
• Provide technical leadership in polymer characterization, especially rheological and solid mechanical analysis.
• Develop, optimize, validate, and implement analytical methods for product development, manufacturing, customer support, and market growth.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in rheology, polymer fractionation, thermal analysis, and mechanical analysis, including method stewardship, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Investigate correlations between polymer microstructure and mechanical, rheological, and thermal response, and establish structure-property-performance relationships.
• Work with cross-functional teams to address technical challenges, support customer needs, and identify opportunities for product differentiation.
• Evaluate and implement emerging characterization technologies and methodologies to advance analytical capabilities.
• Provide technical insights and market feedback to support future product and technology development strategies.
• Monitor industry trends, customer needs, and competitive technologies to guide capability development and innovation.
• Communicate technical findings to scientific, manufacturing, commercial, and customer audiences.
• Contribute to intellectual property, technical publications, and conference presentations.

Benefits

• Pension Plan: automatic enrollment at no cost, with a basic monthly retirement annuity.
• Savings Plan: employee contributions of 6% to 20% of pay, with a 7% company match when the employee contributes at least 6%.
• Workplace flexibility programs, including ad-hoc flexibility around when and where employees work, leaves of absence, and part-time work.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Culture of Health programs and resources to support wellbeing.
• Employee Health Advisory Program offering confidential professional counseling for employees and their families, along with mental health and resiliency resources at no additional cost.
• Disability Plan providing income replacement for inability to work due to illness or injury, with automatic enrollment at no cost.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree