Senior Chemist

Sika • Madison Heights, MI

2d

About The Position

Sika is seeking a Senior Chemist to apply technical expertise and past experience to develop innovative, proprietary products and introduce new chemical concepts into formulation work. The role involves creating new technologies and building blocks, understanding raw-material properties, evaluating competitive technologies and processes, and transferring new products and technologies into production.

The Senior Chemist manages projects from idea proposal through product release, conducts feasibility studies and systematic experiments, and uses design of experiments and statistical methods to evaluate data. The role also involves working with suppliers and customers, providing technical solutions at assembly plants, applying advanced analytical methods, and identifying equipment needed for new programs.

Sika describes itself as a global specialty chemical company operating in 103 countries, with more than 400 factories and approximately 33,000 employees. The company emphasizes entrepreneurship, employee safety and well-being, community contribution, sustainability, and equitable pay. It is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree in general sciences.
• At least 7 years of experience with thermoplastics and thermosets in the automotive OEM market.
• Excellent oral communication, technical writing, and presentation skills.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or equivalent.
• Experience with DOE, Design FMEA, and other quality programs.
• Proven track record of introducing new chemical concepts into formulation work.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience in polyurethane chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Apply technical competence and prior experience to generate ideas for innovative, proprietary products.
• Implement literature findings and introduce new chemical concepts into work.
• Propose and conduct technology-creation projects to create new building blocks.
• Transfer new products and technologies to production.
• Evaluate competitive technologies, new raw materials, and new processes.
• Manage assigned projects from idea proposal through product release.
• Review idea proposals and conduct feasibility studies according to the PCP process.
• Conduct systematic experiments using DOE and other statistical methods to evaluate data.
• Use quality tools under IATF and Six Sigma in cross-functional work.
• Conduct experiments to identify BMAP and FMEA criteria and countermeasures for new products.
• Contact raw-material suppliers and identify potential materials or technologies for Sika.
• Lead customer interactions, negotiate specification-testing criteria, and obtain material approval.
• Visit assembly plants and provide technical solutions to customers.
• Use patent literature in project work and publish research proposals and field-test proposals.
• Identify equipment needed for new programs and execute RPA.
• Recommend and champion solutions, products, and formulations.
• Apply and interpret advanced analytical methods, including rheology and spectroscopy, in project work.

Benefits

• 401(k) with generous company match
• Bonuses
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid parental leave
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Floating holidays
• Paid volunteer time
• Wellness/fitness reimbursements
• Education assistance
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee referral program

What This Job Offers

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