Surface Treatment Chemist / Sr Chemist

Quaker Houghton•Detroit, MI

61d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role focuses on formulation changes, raw-material substitutions, cost-optimization, and simple new-product development, ensuring product performance, quality, and manufacturability. The chemist will work closely with R&D, manufacturing, procurement, and technical service teams to maintain product robustness and accelerate development timelines. Key responsibilities include: * Formulation Adjustments — Modify existing formulations to improve performance, reduce cost, or address supply-chain changes. * Raw Material Qualification — Evaluate alternative suppliers, test new raw materials, and ensure compatibility with existing products. * Simple Product Development — Develop incremental or derivative products based on customer needs or market gaps. * Lab Testing & Validation — Conduct performance testing, stability studies, and application evaluations. * Documentation — Maintain formulation records, test reports, and SOPs in compliance with internal quality systems. * Scale-Up Support — Assist manufacturing teams during pilot runs and production scale-ups. * Troubleshooting — Investigate formulation issues, quality deviations, or customer complaints. * Cross-Functional Collaboration — Work with procurement, operations, and technical service to ensure smooth implementation of formulation changes. * Continuous Improvement — Identify opportunities to streamline formulations, reduce complexity, or improve sustainability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
2–7 years of experience in formulation, product development, or applied chemistry.
Hands-on experience with formulation changes and optimization.
Hands-on experience with raw-material evaluation and substitution.
Hands-on experience with application testing and performance validation.
Strong understanding of chemical interactions, stability, and compatibility.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results on time.

Responsibilities

Independently manage and execute development assignments, determinations and tests.
Provide guidance and oversight to junior level Chemists and Technicians.
Develop and improve chemical products used in a variety of manufacturing and mechanical systems to enhance processes, safety and quality.
Investigate applicability of new and alternative raw materials to enhance performance and minimize cost.
Evaluate and implement alternative raw materials in existing products.
Design, develop, and implement specified tests and determinations to answer questions and address problems of customers.
Develop and perform customer requested product analysis and testing.
Independently select and execute analytical tests to determine quantitative and qualitative composition of raw materials, formulations, competitive products and other chemical (field) samples.
Determine performance characteristics of competitive products using physical, instrumental and wet analysis techniques.
Record all observations and data clearly and orderly.
Report results in a clear and concise manner to enhance technical exchange.
Provide legal and archival documentation for patent applications.
Develop, improve and execute test methods to enhance R&R, efficiency and field performance predictability.
Provide technical service and knowledge to customers and sales associates.
Visit customers when required to assist the Commercial team, develop and deliver presentations, and engage in discussions on complex matters of significance with customers.
Partner with manufacturing to improve the quality and efficiency of the manufacturing process.
Assist manufacturing and the quality assurance lab in solving quality and production problems.
Train and oversee more junior level chemists, lab technicians and trainees in executing routine analysis at the Development Laboratory.
Deliver internal trainings for new hires or employees when needed.
Maintain equipment glassware and workspace in order to keep them clean and well-functioning.
Properly dispose of all laboratory waste.
Participate in ensuring good management of laboratory equipment and storage spaces for chemicals and raw materials.
Comply with housekeeping rules.
Ensure that all equipment and machines in your area of control are managed with regards to safety, maintenance, calibration, and availability.
Perform project work in cooperation with a variety of internal and external contacts.
Lead internal projects as needed.
Comply with applicable regulations and standards regarding quality, safety, environmental as well as occupational health standards.
Modify existing formulations to improve performance, reduce cost, or address supply-chain changes.
Evaluate alternative suppliers, test new raw materials, and ensure compatibility with existing products.
Develop incremental or derivative products based on customer needs or market gaps.
Conduct performance testing, stability studies, and application evaluations.
Maintain formulation records, test reports, and SOPs in compliance with internal quality systems.
Assist manufacturing teams during pilot runs and production scale-ups.
Investigate formulation issues, quality deviations, or customer complaints.
Work with procurement, operations, and technical service to ensure smooth implementation of formulation changes.
Identify opportunities to streamline formulations, reduce complexity, or improve sustainability.