Sr. Ink Chemist

A.C. Coy•Wheeling, WV

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Ink Chemist will lead complex ink development programs from concept through commercialization and serve as the primary technical authority for product scale-up, technology transfers, and advanced manufacturing troubleshooting. The role focuses on next-generation inkjet, functional, and security ink platforms, including formulation strategy, product optimization, and successful transition from laboratory work to high-volume manufacturing. The position is onsite in Wheeling, West Virginia. The employer is offering a salary and benefits package and an opportunity to contribute to the company’s growth and sales strategies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related physical science discipline.
At least 8 years of progressive, hands-on industrial R&D experience for candidates with a master’s degree, or 10 or more years for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, specializing in inkjet ink formulation, functional fluids, or complex fluid mechanics and ink/printhead interaction.
Demonstrated record of launching commercialized inkjet products from laboratory scale through pilot production to high-volume manufacturing.
Experience leading complex, multi-variable technical projects and managing cross-functional timelines.
Experience mentoring, training, or supervising junior chemists, laboratory technicians, or engineering peers.
Fundamental understanding of surfactant chemistry, rheology modifiers, dispersion stabilization, resin and binder crosslinking chemistry, and pigment and dye color science.
Knowledge of piezo and thermal inkjet printhead architectures and drop-on-demand or continuous inkjet jetting mechanics, including waveform compatibility.
Familiarity with surface energy, adhesion promoters, substrate chemistry, and UV/UV-LED, EB, or thermal curing and drying mechanisms.
Expert proficiency interpreting data from rotational rheometers, dynamic surface tensiometers, particle-size analyzers (DLS), drop-watchers, and analytical spectroscopy.
Direct experience generating invention disclosures and analyzing patent landscapes.
Strong root-cause analysis skills using structured frameworks such as DOE and FMEA.
Technical communication skills to negotiate specifications and collaborate with global raw-material suppliers and contract manufacturing partners.
Ability to communicate technical data and business impacts to executives, commercial stakeholders, and customers.

Responsibilities

Direct the strategic formulation and development lifecycle of next-generation inkjet, functional, and security ink platforms, and audit existing formulations for optimization.
Architect, oversee, and execute complex ink development programs from concept to commercialization using statistical and scientific methodologies.
Apply expertise in pigment and dye chemistry, functional materials, and printhead dynamics to develop products meeting performance, reliability, and regulatory standards.
Establish compatibility matrices to validate ink and hardware interactions across printhead architectures, substrates, and end-use environments.
Lead root-cause investigations into complex formulation, application, and product-performance challenges.
Identify, evaluate, and integrate raw materials and emerging technologies into the product roadmap.
Define raw-material specifications and manage technical partnerships with global suppliers on synthesis, quality control, and specialized requirements.
Partner with Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Operations to support phase-gate transitions from laboratory synthesis to high-volume manufacturing.
Serve as the primary technical authority during scale-up, technology transfers, and manufacturing troubleshooting.
Design testing methodologies and analytical frameworks, interpret experimental data, and establish predictive models to guide formulation development.
Oversee intellectual-property generation and technical documentation, including patent disclosures, project whitepapers, regulatory filings, and manufacturing specifications.
Govern formal release of new product lines and formulation revisions in compliance with ISO-audited procedures and ERP frameworks.
Serve as a subject-matter expert in specialty ink chemistry and digital printing technologies across the global organization.
Mentor and develop junior and mid-level R&D chemists.
Monitor competitive and industry trends in digital imaging and functional fluids.
Manage the R&D project portfolio, resource allocation, and capital expenditure in alignment with corporate milestones and commercial timelines.
Enforce laboratory safety practices and ensure compliance with international standards, ISO requirements, and corporate EHS policies.