R&D Chemist I

Sherwin-Williams • Pittsburgh, PA

2d

About The Position

The Chemist I supports the development and commercialization of coating technologies for the Packaging Food business. The role formulates and evaluates coatings, executes laboratory and pack-testing programs, analyzes results, and supports product scale-up and customer trials. The successful candidate applies scientific principles, structured experimentation, and developing technical judgment to create practical solutions that meet application, customer, and business needs.

The role includes contact with other employees and access to confidential or proprietary information and other items of value. The Company has determined that a criminal-history review is necessary to protect its business, operations, reputation, staff, employees, and business relationships. Travel requirements are 10%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM).
• At least 1 year of experience working in a laboratory setting, including academic or industry experience.
• Foundational knowledge of chemistry, polymers, materials, or coatings.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety, quality, and data-integrity practices.
• Ability to safely operate standard laboratory equipment and follow established test methods and procedures.
• Ability to plan and execute laboratory experiments with appropriate technical guidance.
• Ability to organize and analyze experimental data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop data-supported conclusions.
• Ability to maintain accurate laboratory records and prepare clear technical reports, summaries, and presentations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with R&D and cross-functional partners.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Coursework or academic research in coatings, polymers, materials science, surface science, corrosion, or food-packaging technology.
• Experience in coatings formulation, application, or performance testing.
• Experience with food-contact coatings, packaging coatings, metal packaging, polymers, or related materials.
• Exposure to design of experiments or statistical analysis.
• Exposure to product scale-up, manufacturing support, pilot trials, commercialization, or customer trials.

Responsibilities

• Formulate, apply, and evaluate coatings for food-packaging applications.
• Plan and execute projects of minimal to moderate complexity, with technical guidance as needed.
• Translate defined project requirements into experimental plans and technical deliverables.
• Evaluate formulation, cure, film weight, substrate, fabrication, corrosion resistance, adhesion, and pack performance.
• Use experimental-design and statistical tools to organize and analyze development work.
• Interpret data, identify trends or anomalies, and develop clear, data-supported conclusions and next steps.
• Support pack testing, pilot and customer trials, product scale-up, and technical investigations.
• Collaborate with R&D, Technical Service, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, Sales, and other cross-functional partners.
• Maintain organized experimental records and communicate technical results through concise reports and presentations.
• Use historical technical knowledge and internal systems to support project planning and problem solving.
• Build technical expertise in food-packaging applications, coating technologies, and test methods.
• Perform laboratory work with safety, quality, and data integrity as priorities.

What This Job Offers

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