Sr. Ink Chemist

A.C. Coy•Wheeling, WV

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Ink Chemist leads complex ink development programs from concept through commercialization and serves as the primary technical authority for product scale-up, technology transfers, and advanced manufacturing troubleshooting. The role directs development of inkjet, functional, and security ink platforms, optimizes existing formulations, and applies expertise in ink chemistry, materials, printhead dynamics, and manufacturing to deliver products that meet performance, reliability, and regulatory standards. The position works across Quality Assurance, Engineering, Operations, suppliers, contract manufacturing partners, and global stakeholders. It also oversees technical documentation and intellectual property, supports formal product releases under ISO-audited procedures and ERP frameworks, mentors R&D staff, manages the project portfolio and resources, monitors industry developments, and promotes laboratory safety and compliance. The role is onsite, with an office located in Wheeling, West Virginia.

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 specializing in inkjet ink formulation, functional fluids, or complex fluid mechanics and ink/printhead interaction for candidates with a master’s degree; 10 or more years for candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
Track 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/binder crosslinking chemistry, and color science involving pigments and dyes.
Knowledge of piezo and thermal inkjet printhead architectures and drop-on-demand or continuous inkjet mechanics required to optimize waveform compatibility.
Familiarity with surface energy, adhesion promoters, and chemical interactions across substrates such as films, plastics, paper, and metals.
Expertise in UV/UV-LED radiation curing, EB curing, or thermal drying mechanisms.
Proficiency interpreting data from tools such as 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 as concise business impacts for executives, commercial stakeholders, and customers.

Responsibilities

Direct strategic formulation and development of next-generation inkjet, functional, and security ink platforms, and optimize existing formulations.
Plan and execute complex ink development programs from concept to commercialization using scientific and statistical methodologies.
Apply expertise in pigment and dye chemistry, functional materials, and printhead dynamics to design products meeting performance, reliability, and regulatory standards.
Establish compatibility matrices to validate ink interactions with printheads, substrates, and end-use environments.
Lead root-cause investigations into formulation, application, and product-performance challenges.
Scout, 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.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Operations to manage phase-gate transitions from laboratory synthesis to high-volume manufacturing.
Serve as the technical authority during scale-up, technology transfers, and manufacturing troubleshooting.
Develop testing methodologies and analytical frameworks, interpret experimental data, and establish predictive models for formulation development.
Oversee intellectual property and technical documentation, including patent disclosures, project whitepapers, regulatory filings, and manufacturing specifications.
Govern formal release of product lines and formulation revisions in compliance with ISO-audited procedures and ERP frameworks.
Serve as the subject-matter expert for specialty ink chemistry and digital printing technologies across the global organization.
Mentor and develop junior and mid-level R&D chemists.
Monitor competitors 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 and ensure compliance with international standards, ISO requirements, and corporate EHS policies.