Polymer and Synthetic Chemist, Mining & Metals

Ohr•Lafayette, CO

2d•$125,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ohr is seeking a Polymer and Synthetic Chemist to work across its mining and metals and energetics programs. The role owns phenolic condensation chemistry for mining and metals polymer products, including controlling molecular weight distributions from soluble oligomers to crosslinked beads. It also develops binder systems for polymer-bonded explosives and solid rocket motor applications, using overlapping cure chemistry and characterization methods. The chemist will establish and run characterization programs and methods, including calorimetry, GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, rheometry, swelling, and extractables. The work also includes developing bead and resin morphology, screening candidate derivatives on Ohr's platform chemistries, and supporting surge campaigns across programs. The role is onsite at Ohr's laboratory in the Boulder / Lafayette, Colorado area, five days per week. The position involves access to data and systems subject to U.S. export control regulations, including ITAR, and access to explosive materials. Candidates must meet the stated export-control and employee-possessor eligibility requirements.

Requirements

PhD in polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering with at least 2 years of experience beyond the degree, or a BS/MS with at least 6 years of industrial polymer development experience.
Experience with step-growth polymerization and molecular weight control.
Hands-on synthetic organic chemistry experience; formulation experience alone is not sufficient.
Ability to personally perform polymer characterization, including GPC/SEC, thermal analysis, and rheology.
Experience taking a resin or binder from a laboratory batch to a reproducible specification across multiple campaigns.
Comfort working in a hazardous laboratory environment and treating exotherm control as a design decision.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).
Must be eligible to serve as an employee possessor of explosive materials under federal law and not be a prohibited person under 18 U.S.C. § 842(i).

Nice To Haves

Experience with phenolic or epoxy resin systems.
Experience with HTPB, polyurethane, or energetic binder systems, and solid rocket motor propellant or PBX formulation.
Experience with crosslinked bead and resin synthesis, suspension or emulsion polymerization, and porosity control.
Experience with reaction calorimetry on exothermic cures and runaway characterization.
Experience manufacturing and functionalizing ion exchange or chelating resins.
Experience working in an ITAR environment or holding a security clearance.
Experience applying statistical design of experiments to a formulation space.

Responsibilities

Own phenolic condensation chemistry for mining and metals polymer products, from soluble oligomers to crosslinked beads, targeting a narrow and reproducible molecular weight distribution.
Run calorimetry and thermal characterization of cure chemistry and use the results to establish operating conditions.
Develop binder systems for polymer-bonded explosives and solid rocket motor applications, including HTPB and energetic binder chemistry, cure kinetics, filler loading and rheology, pot life, and cured-composite mechanical properties.
Develop and maintain characterization methods, including GPC/SEC, DSC, TGA, rheometry, swelling, and extractables, and explain the methods and results to customers.
Develop bead and resin morphology through suspension polymerization, controlling particle size distribution, porosity, and surface area.
Screen candidate derivatives on Ohr's platform chemistries alongside the metals bench.
Support surge campaigns across verticals when a program needs additional bench support.