Research Fellow

Amrize • Fishers, IN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Seeking a high-impact Technical Director/Research Fellow to lead advanced product development, material chemistry, and process innovation across our commercial roofing and building envelope portfolio. This role bridges the gap between fundamental polymer science and industrial scale-up, serving as both a primary R&D innovator and a senior technical authority for manufacturing plant operations. The ideal candidate brings deep material science and process expertise across polyisocyanurate rigid foam, TPO, PVC, polyurethane (PU/TPU), and CASE. You will be responsible for translating market requirements into first-to-market commercial platforms, while providing hands-on root-cause failure analysis (RCFA) and line optimization on the plant floor.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or MS in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Organic Chemistry, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 20+ years (Master's) or 15+ years (Ph.D.) of hands-on R&D and plant-floor experience in building products, polymer processing, commercial roofing, or advanced industrial materials.
• Proven history of leading product scale-ups, managing multi-million-dollar technology platforms, and delivering patent-protected commercial solutions.
• Demonstrated, hands-on experience in one or more core domains: Rigid foam insulation chemistry (Polyiso formulations, blowing agents, surfactant optimization), Polymer processing (TPO, PU/PIR , co-extrusion, film/tape compounding, protective coating systems), Adhesives & Elastomeric Coatings (Solvent/water-based, UV-cured, hot-melt, single-ply adhesives, PU/silicone chemistry).
• Solid expertise in thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization tools.
• Direct experience troubleshooting continuous extrusion, compounding, coating, or foam lamination production lines in heavy industrial manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of building code approvals, fire retardancy standards, wind uplift testing, and environmental compliance requirements.
• 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 that 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

• Lead R&D initiatives in Polyiso/EPS rigid foam insulation, TPO single-ply systems, and liquid-applied coatings/adhesives
• Partner with engineering teams on technology transfers from lab-scale synthesis through pilot line runs and full-scale commercial manufacturing
• Drive integration of predictive modeling tools (FEA), AI-driven material and process modeling, and digital analytics into R&D processes to optimize process and accelerate product launch
• Drive early-stage concepts to build patentable intellectual property, establishing long-term competitive differentiation and high-margin product platforms.
• Serve as the principal technical contact to diagnose and resolve complex material defects, cure/mixing instabilities, crosslinking optimization, delamination issues, thermal stability analysis, viscoelastic behavior and melt fracture elimination
• Partner with plant engineering to establish tight process windows, optimize line speeds, improve mix ratios, and integrate automated process controls without sacrificing product performance or yield.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Quality, and Operations to formulate and execute lab-to-plant qualification protocols for alternative raw materials to optimize raw material P&L without compromising performance and translating material characterization data into strict plant process specifications
• Ensure all new formulations and structural modifications strictly comply with industry standards including ASTM, FM Global (wind uplift/fire resistance), UL, and Miami-Dade protocols.
• Build strategic alliances with suppliers, university research labs, and external test facilities to leverage innovative commercial offerings to accelerate new product development, optimize materials and processes
• Mentor and develop junior scientists, process engineers, and lab technicians, promoting scientific rigor, structured experimental design, and analytical testing excellence.
• 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.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 401(k) pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax savings
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Medical, Dental, Disability and Life Insurance
• Holistic Health & Well-being programs
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for health and dependent care
• Vision and other Voluntary benefits and discounts
• Paid time off & paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave (maternity & paternity)
• Educational Assistance Program
• Dress for your day

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree