Research & Development Sr Chemist/Chemist

Amrize•Waukesha, WI

About The Position

Join the Gaco team, a trusted name in building envelope solutions with a heritage dating back to 1955. We’re seeking a Research & Development Sr Chemist/Chemist who’s ready to be part of a company committed to formulating everyday success for every customer through innovative, reliable products used to adhere, seal, and protect at every level of the building envelope. The Chemist or Senior Chemist will provide technical leadership and hands-on support for developing, optimizing, and manufacturing high-performance liquid-applied coatings. This position plays a critical role in supporting production, qualifying raw materials, resolving customer issues, and ensuring products continue to meet quality and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Regulatory teams to drive continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher
Field of Study Preferred: Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
Chemist: 3–5 years of experience in coatings, adhesives, sealants, polymers, or related formulation chemistry.
Senior Chemist: 5–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in product formulation and manufacturing support.
Strong knowledge of coatings formulation, manufacturing processes, and troubleshooting.
Experience performing ASTM test methods and interpreting performance data.
Hands-on experience supporting manufacturing trials, production scale-ups, and day-to-day plant operations.
Experience conducting root-cause investigations and implementing corrective actions.
Familiarity with industry codes, regulatory requirements, and product certification processes.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple functional groups.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Successful candidates must adhere to all safety protocols and proper use of Amrize-approved Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), including but not limited to respirators. Employees who are required to wear respirators must be clean-shaven where the respirator seal meets the face in order to pass the qualitative and quantitative fit tests.

Responsibilities

Provide daily technical support for manufacturing operations.
Troubleshoot production issues and recommend corrective actions to improve product quality, consistency, and manufacturing efficiency.
Support continuous improvement initiatives for existing formulations and manufacturing processes.
Evaluate, test, and qualify alternative raw materials to maintain product performance and ensure supply chain continuity.
Assess the impact of raw material changes on formulation stability, processing, and finished product performance.
Investigate customer complaints through laboratory testing and root-cause analysis.
Partner with Quality and Operations to develop and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Plan, coordinate, and support laboratory, pilot, and production-scale manufacturing trials.
Collaborate with manufacturing personnel to ensure successful scale-up of new and existing products.
Work closely with Regulatory and Codes teams to ensure products remain compliant with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Support product certifications, testing programs, and agency approvals as needed.
Act as the technical liaison between R&D, Operations, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Procurement.
Communicate technical findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Demonstrate a commitment to communicating, improving, and adhering to health, safety, and environmental policies in all work environments and areas. Promote a culture of safety and exhibit these behaviors.