Principal R&D Engineer/Scientist

Solstice Advanced Materials•Buffalo, NY

9h•$180,000 - $245,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role of Sr. Principal R&D Engineer/Scientist supports the Foam Blowing Agents business, with a strong focus on thermoset insulation technologies, particularly polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foams. Solstice Advanced Materials is a global supplier of fluorine products, fine chemicals, additives, metals, films, and fibers serving industries such as pharmaceuticals, refrigeration, semiconductors, and military protection. We help make the world safer, cleaner, and more sustainable through a differentiated portfolio of chemistries, materials, value-added solutions, and exceptional customer service. Our mission is to attract, develop, and retain diverse, highly motivated employees who are committed to delivering superior value to our customers every day.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum of 15 years of commercial formulation, technical service, product development, or application development experience in the polyurethane foam industry.
Demonstrated expertise in polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate foam technologies.
Proven customer-facing experience solving technical challenges and supporting commercial growth.

Nice To Haves

Extensive polyurethane formulation and application development experience, preferably spanning multiple market segments.
Broad understanding of engineering principles and familiarity with a variety of foam manufacturing processes and production environments.
Strong leadership and project management capabilities.
Experience working within Stage-Gate innovation processes and Salesforce (SFDC) systems.
Strong business acumen and ability to connect technical solutions with customer value.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Experience working in a matrixed global organization.
Demonstrated experience with industry trade associations and standards organizations.
Experience developing intellectual property and supporting patent filings.
Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

Provide advanced expertise in polyurethane foam formulation, processing, and performance optimization.
Serve as the technical expert on cross-functional project teams supporting fluorine-based technologies used in polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam applications.
Collaborate directly with customers to resolve technical challenges across multiple polyurethane applications and manufacturing processes.
Represent the company within industry trade associations and technical organizations.
Contribute to the advancement of industry knowledge through technical publications and presentations related to polyurethane rigid foam technology.
Support intellectual property activities, including invention disclosures, patent reviews, and IP strategy development.
Conduct Voice of Customer (VOC) interviews to identify unmet needs and develop compelling value propositions for Solstice Advanced Materials products.
Identify new technology opportunities and drive innovation projects that support business growth in collaboration with commercial teams.
Translate customer requirements into actionable R&D and project plans while balancing technical and business objectives.
Analyze and interpret complex scientific and technical data and communicate findings effectively to customers, business leaders, and technical stakeholders.
Develop and provide conversion guidelines, technical recommendations, and implementation support for customers adopting Solstice Advanced Materials products.
Mentor and coach scientists and engineers, fostering technical excellence and knowledge sharing across the organization.