Research Chemist

HRL Laboratories • Malibu, CA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented scientist to drive chemical synthesis and material development efforts from benchtop experimentation through pilot-scale production. This role blends hands-on organic and polymer synthesis, inorganic and sol-gel chemistry, advanced material characterization, and process optimization to develop next‑generation materials for automotive, aerospace, and defense applications within a collaborative team environment. This role involves working with other scientists and presenting results to team members and customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s and a minimum of 3 years of experience or master’s degree in chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• A strong fundamental understanding of organic and polymer chemistry, supplemented by knowledge of inorganic chemistry and physics.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in wet chemistry and/or polymer synthesis in a research environment
• Experience with formulation, compounding or scale-up of commercial-grade materials (coatings, adhesives, elastomers, composites).
• Demonstrated ability to perform thermal, optical, and chemical analysis.
• Strong data analysis and organizational skills; proficiency with spreadsheet and data processing/analysis tools
• Excellent technical communication skills, including clear written documentation and presentation of experimental results

Responsibilities

• Execute complex chemical reactions and polymerizations, including organic, polymer, sol gel, and organometallic synthesis.
• Develop, optimize and scale material processing techniques to produce high-performance functional polymers, coatings and composites.
• Operate and maintain a suite of analytical tools, including DSC, TGA, FTIR, UV-Vis, rheometer, and SEM, to interpret data and guide experimental iterations.
• Document experimental procedures, analyze results, and present technical findings to Project Managers and stakeholders.
• Manage laboratory operations, including equipment calibration, chemical inventory, and maintaining a rigorous standard of lab cleanliness and organization.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• 401K match
• gym facilities
• PTO
• Sick time
• upward mobility

What This Job Offers

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