Principal Development Chemist

Henkel group • Bridgewater Township, NJ

6d • $95,000 - $115,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow. This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Dare to learn new skills, advance in your career and make an impact at Henkel.

Requirements

• Ph.D. (preferred) or master’s degree in chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• 3-5 years of lab experience ideally in adhesives, sealants, coatings, or polymer systems
• Strong knowledge of polymer science, structure–property relationships, and adhesive formulation
• Experience with organic synthesis and formulation of polyurethanes, silanes, and acrylics is an advantage
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions
• Self-driven, proactive mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize innovative adhesives aligned with market needs and business growth priorities
• Design and execute laboratory experiments, including synthesis, formulation, and performance testing, to meet critical application requirements
• Evaluate processing behavior and bonding performance through application-relevant testing and customer simulations
• Lead and manage laboratory workstreams, ensuring high-quality data, clear documentation, and effective communication of results
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to scale up new products and support existing ones
• Partner with application engineering and commercial teams to plan and execute customer trials and validations
• Provide technical support to external customers
• Proactively drive projects forward by identifying risks, defining next steps, and ensuring efficient progression through development stages
• Ensure all work complies with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Stay current with industry trends, competitor technologies, and the IP landscape; contribute to patent generation and protection
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including lab digitalization and automation

Benefits

• Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies (depending on role), and vacation buy / sell program
• Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement
• Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships
• Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

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