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Development CHemist
Development Chemist
Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
100000-120000
Job Description
Our client needs a highly motivated and innovative Development Chemist to join their team.
The Development Chemist will drive the development of battery separator technologies for lead-acid batteries, focusing on improving performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
The Development Chemist will develop new formulations, optimize manufacturing processes, and validate product performance from the lab to pilot-scale production.
The Development Chemist focus area’s Polyethylene (PE) separators, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) materials, Silica-filled rubber separators, autoclaved vulcanized rubber separators. Prefer Lead-acid systems
Responsibilities:
Requirements:
Growing company where you can make a difference
Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
100000-120000
Job Description
Our client needs a highly motivated and innovative Development Chemist to join their team.
The Development Chemist will drive the development of battery separator technologies for lead-acid batteries, focusing on improving performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
The Development Chemist will develop new formulations, optimize manufacturing processes, and validate product performance from the lab to pilot-scale production.
The Development Chemist focus area’s Polyethylene (PE) separators, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) materials, Silica-filled rubber separators, autoclaved vulcanized rubber separators. Prefer Lead-acid systems
Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and synthesis of new, high-performance battery separator materials (polyethylene, silica-filled materials, and AGM) to meet emerging market needs.
- Optimize manufacturing processes including extrusion, pore formation, and coating technologies to enhance separator permeability, mechanical strength, and electrical resistance.
- Utilize Design of Experiments (DOE) to structure and execute comprehensive testing protocols to evaluate separator-level attributes (surface chemistry, wettability, pore structure) and their impact on cell performance.
- Lead programs for incremental product and quality improvement using tools; DOE, problem solving tools such as root cause analysis and EVOP (evolutionary optimization)
- Collaborate with cell developers to integrate new separators into prototype cells, conducting abusive, electrochemical, and life-cycle tests to validate improvements. Evaluate separator performance focusing on ER, acid displacement, dendrite suppression, and oxidation stability.
- Utilize advanced analytical equipment (FIB-SEM, CT scanning, mercury porosimetry) to analyze material microstructure and failure mechanisms.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Manufacturing, Sales, Quality) to transfer new products from the laboratory into pilot-scale and commercial production.
- Write detailed technical reports, SOPs, and conference materials (presentations, technical papers, etc.), and present research findings to stakeholders.
- Awareness of the patent landscape, ensure programs are safe to run to product fruition, which leads to unique solutions, to file patents where appropriate to protect MP innovation and IP.
- Lead by example to promote a zero-incident safety culture
- Ensure strict adherence to safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency
- Encourage team-driven ideas and implement practical, data-driven solutions
- Promote respect, inclusion, and engagement In a collaborative environment
Requirements:
- BS and/or MS degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry
- 5 + years development polymers, porous membranes, or separator technology.
- Polyethylene (PE) separators, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) materials, Silica-filled rubber separators, autoclaved vulcanized rubber separators.
- Strong understanding of polymer physics, surface chemistry, and electrochemical transport mechanisms in porous materials.
- Hands-on capability with extrusion, polymer compounding, and coating technologies.
- Expertise with material characterization tools: SEM, DSC, TGA, Porosimetry, Tensile testers ICP.
- Familiarity with standard global battery testing methods (cycling, EIS, CV), working to American, European and Asian systems as necessary.
- Experience working with technicians engineers and operators resolving formulations or process problems on the plant floor
- Experience using AI-enhanced modeling and high-throughput data analysis to accelerate component optimization is preferred.
- Strong problem-solving skills, ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to manage NPD projects, and excellent technical communication skills.
- Travel domestically and Internationally to internal plants, customers and conferences.
Growing company where you can make a difference