Principal R&D Engineer/Scientist

Solstice Advanced Materials

$180K — $245K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field.
  • 15+ years of experience in commercial formulation or application development in polyurethane foam.
  • Expertise in polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam technologies.
  • Proven experience in customer-facing technical support.

Responsibilities

  • Provide expertise in polyurethane foam formulation and performance optimization.
  • Act as the technical authority on projects involving fluorine-based technologies.
  • Collaborate with clients to solve technical challenges in foam applications.
  • Represent the company in industry trade groups and organizations.
  • Produce technical publications to advance knowledge in rigid foam technology.
  • Support IP activities including invention disclosures and patent reviews.
  • Conduct interviews to determine customer needs and develop product value propositions.
  • Drive innovation projects collaborating with commercial teams.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage.
  • 401(k) match and Flexible Spending Accounts.
  • Health Savings Accounts and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Educational Assistance for professional development.
  • Generous parental leave and Paid Time Off, including vacation and sick leave.
  • 12 Paid Holidays annually.
Full Job Description
Job Description

This role of Sr. Principal R&D Engineer/Scientist supports the Foam Blowing Agents business, with a strong focus on thermoset insulation technologies, particularly polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foams.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities
  • Provide advanced expertise in polyurethane foam formulation, processing, and performance optimization.
  • Serve as the technical expert on cross-functional project teams supporting fluorine-based technologies used in polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam applications.
  • Collaborate directly with customers to resolve technical challenges across multiple polyurethane applications and manufacturing processes.
  • Represent the company within industry trade associations and technical organizations.
  • Contribute to the advancement of industry knowledge through technical publications and presentations related to polyurethane rigid foam technology.
  • Support intellectual property activities, including invention disclosures, patent reviews, and IP strategy development.
  • Conduct Voice of Customer (VOC) interviews to identify unmet needs and develop compelling value propositions for Solstice Advanced Materials products.
  • Identify new technology opportunities and drive innovation projects that support business growth in collaboration with commercial teams.
  • Translate customer requirements into actionable R&D and project plans while balancing technical and business objectives.
  • Analyze and interpret complex scientific and technical data and communicate findings effectively to customers, business leaders, and technical stakeholders.
  • Develop and provide conversion guidelines, technical recommendations, and implementation support for customers adopting Solstice Advanced Materials products.
  • Mentor and coach scientists and engineers, fostering technical excellence and knowledge sharing across the organization.


Qualifications

You Must Have
  • Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
  • Minimum of 15 years of commercial formulation, technical service, product development, or application development experience in the polyurethane foam industry.
  • Demonstrated expertise in polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate foam technologies.
  • Proven customer-facing experience solving technical challenges and supporting commercial growth.

We Value
  • Extensive polyurethane formulation and application development experience, preferably spanning multiple market segments.
  • Broad understanding of engineering principles and familiarity with a variety of foam manufacturing processes and production environments.
  • Strong leadership and project management capabilities.
  • Experience working within Stage-Gate innovation processes and Salesforce (SFDC) systems.
  • Strong business acumen and ability to connect technical solutions with customer value.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
  • Experience working in a matrixed global organization.
  • Demonstrated experience with industry trade associations and standards organizations.
  • Experience developing intellectual property and supporting patent filings.
  • Willingness to travel up to 30%.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS

In addition to a competitive salary, leading-edge work, and developing solutions side-by-side with dedicated experts in their fields, Solstice Advanced Materials employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. This package includes employer-subsidized Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance; Short-Term and Long-Term Disability; 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, EAP, and Educational Assistance; Parental Leave, Paid Time Off (for vacation, personal business, sick time, and parental leave), and 12 Paid Holidays.

The annual base salary range for this position is $180k-$245K. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. Solstice considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations. This position is incentive plan eligible

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