R&D- Scientist

Sherwin-Williams•Greensboro, NC

21h

About The Position

The R&D Scientist leads the assessment, development, reformulation, quality, maintenance, and enhancement of products by planning, executing, and analyzing experiments. The role develops differentiated coating products that meet performance, quality, economic, and customer requirements, using advanced technologies and expert knowledge of coatings technologies and markets. It is accountable for resolving complex product and process problems and completing multiple moderate- to high-complexity projects accurately and on time, while mentoring less experienced technical professionals. The position works with raw materials, formulations, substrates, instruments, coating application equipment, and customer processes. It collaborates with sales, marketing, quality, manufacturing, and innovation teams to develop technology platforms and customer solutions, support product flow and technical service, and maintain or reduce costs. The role also requires maintaining laboratory equipment and documentation, following ISO procedures and safety policies, and may involve access to confidential and proprietary information. Travel is 30%. A criminal-history review is required. The successful candidate must sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.

Requirements

Must be legally authorized to work in the country of application without current or future sponsorship for an employment visa or permanent residence status.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field.
At least 8 years of coatings formulation experience.
Experience formulating solvent-borne coatings.
Experience applying and troubleshooting OEM coatings.
Strong understanding of solvent-based product end use and customer processes.
Familiarity with ASTM, KCMA, BIFMA, WDMA, and AAMA performance parameters and testing methods.
Familiarity with common finishing equipment in Industrial Wood markets, including kitchen cabinet and furniture segments.
Must sign an Employee Restrictive Covenant Agreement where permitted by law.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Coatings Technology, or a related field.
At least 10 years of coatings formulation experience.
Experience formulating conversion varnish products for the kitchen cabinet market segment.
Experience with direct customer interactions, including presentations, finishing-line trials, and quality investigations.
Mentorship experience.
Proficiency using DFSS tools in product development.
DFSS Green Belt Certification.
Conversion varnish formulation expertise.

Responsibilities

Adhere to safety policies, laboratory procedures, and ISO procedures and practices.
Lead product assessment, development, reformulation, quality, maintenance, and enhancement through planning, executing, and analyzing experiments with clear and accurate results.
Demonstrate innovation and initiative by developing project proposals and R&D programs of strategic significance.
Develop new products and methods, improve existing products, and anticipate, prevent, and solve complex technical problems.
Identify, recommend, and lead strategic projects and assess technology solutions.
Collaborate with the innovation team to develop and implement technology platforms.
Develop solutions to complex product and process problems using expert knowledge of raw materials, substrates, application equipment, and instrumentation.
Issue periodic reports on development projects and reformulations to preserve the technical resource base, and document formula changes.
Interface with sales, marketing, quality, and manufacturing teams to support the orderly flow of products, support, and information to customers.
Develop innovative coating products that provide differentiated customer solutions and address Industrial Wood Division market segments and performance requirements.
Mentor lower-level technical professionals.
Lead multiple technically complex projects simultaneously and independently, without direct supervision.
Use the Stage Gate Process in product development.
Maintain laboratory equipment, including calibration and appropriate documentation.
Provide technical assistance as required and maintain awareness of current developments.
Apply business awareness and a broad perspective to develop commercially important products and processes, leverage internal technology, and maintain or reduce costs.
Travel 30%.