PVC Chemist

EFTEC NORTH AMERICA L L C•Taylor, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The PVC Chemist develops, improves, and supports PVC plastisol products for the automotive industry, including underbody coatings, seam sealers, anti-chip coatings, and sound deadeners. The role also supports water-based coatings and rubber-based adhesives and sealants. It covers formulation, testing, scale-up, OEM approvals, and technical support for customers and production.

Requirements

5–15 years of lab experience, including hands-on formulation of PVC plastisols, sealants, or coatings.
Excel required.

Nice To Haves

BS or MS in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Automotive OEM experience preferred, including working to OEM specifications and approval processes.
Knowledge of plasticizer chemistry and related regulatory trends preferred.
Lean Manufacturing experience.
QAD or other ERP system experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Formulates and optimizes PVC plastisols for automotive underbody coatings, seam sealers, anti-chip coatings, and sound deadeners.
Selects and balances PVC resins, plasticizers (including non-phthalate alternatives), fillers, stabilizers, adhesion promoters, and rheology modifiers.
Controls viscosity, sag resistance, and pumpability for robotic and airless spray application.
Designs formulations for proper gelation and fusion within OEM paint-shop oven bake windows, including adhesion over e-coat and oily metal.
Formulates water-based coatings, including sound deadeners and underbody materials.
Formulates rubber-based adhesives and sealants.
Runs routine and investigative testing, including viscosity and rheology, gel and fusion behavior, adhesion, chip resistance, corrosion and salt spray, and heat and cold aging.
Tests products to automotive OEM specifications and manages the approval process with OEMs.
Applies and interprets standard scientific theories, concepts, and techniques.
Finds and qualifies alternative raw materials, including plasticizer and resin substitutions.
Scales up new and modified formulations from lab to production.
Troubleshoots production and customer issues, such as viscosity drift, poor gelation, blistering, and adhesion failures.
Ensures formulations comply with applicable regulations and customer requirements, including DOT, TSCA, REACH, Prop 65, OEM restricted-substance lists, and IMDS reporting.
Writes technical reports and prepares and presents project reports to customers and project sponsors.
Participates in trade shows, conferences, and technical seminars.
Guides and mentors less experienced technical staff.
Works with technical staff, sales, business managers, and the outside technical community.
Maintains a lab notebook according to company standards.
All other duties as assigned.