About the job

This Scientist role is a high-impact technical position within the Product Chemistry group at the Bridgewater Innovation Center. The successful candidate will serve as a subject-matter expert in polymer design, synthesis, and structure–property relationships, independently driving complex research programs that support new product development and process improvement across multiple application areas. The role requires exceptional scientific depth, strong experimental intuition, and the ability to independently manage the technical execution of multi-step, multi-variable projects. The Scientist will be responsible for designing new materials, synthetic strategies, solving complex chemistry and scale-up challenges, generating intellectual property, and delivering high-quality solutions and technical results with minimal supervision.

In your future role as Scientist, you will

• Independently conceive, design, and execute research programs focused on novel polymer and surfactant structures that address customer and market needs.
• Develop and optimize polymer structures and synthetic routes, including feasibility assessment, design, and scale-up considerations.
• Serve as a technical expert during technology transfer, identifying potential scale-up risks and proposing chemistry-based solutions.
• Provide hands-on support to manufacturing during start‑up of new products, including troubleshooting process deviations.
• Generate intellectual property through invention disclosures and patent applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (applications, marketing, regulatory, analytical, operations) as the primary technical chemistry expert on projects assigned.
• Maintain rigorous laboratory documentation and uphold best-in-class safety and 5S practices.
• Deliver clear, concise technical reports and presentations to stakeholders.
• Manage both short-term tactical experiments and long-term strategic technical programs with minimal supervision.
• Travel as needed (~10%

We believe you bring

Education 

• Masters degree in Chemistry
• Preferred- PhD Chemistry

Experience:

7-15 years of industrial experience

Competencies

• Expert‑level knowledge in polymer design, synthesis, and characterization, with the ability to independently conceive, plan and execute complex experimental programs.
• Strong command of structure–property relationships and their translation into performance.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot sophisticated chemistry and process issues, including scale‑up and technology transfer challenges.
• Proven track record of technical accomplishments (patents, publications, or commercialized technologies).
• Ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple technical workstreams in alignment with direct manager.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and draw accurate and actionable conclusions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for documenting work, presenting findings, and collaborating with cross‑functional partners 

Preferred Competencies

• Experience with polysaccharides, siloxanes, or silicon‑based polymer chemistry.
• Experience supporting pilot‑plant or manufacturing operations.
• Familiarity with structured project execution frameworks (e.g., Stage‑Gate) from a technical contributor perspective.
• Experience in surfactants and specialty chemicals

Skills

• Advanced organic and polymer synthesis, including multi‑step routes and design of novel polymer architectures.
• Proficiency with analytical techniques such as NMR, IR, GC, GPC, LC, MS, microscopy, and classical wet chemistry.
• Ability to develop or adapt analytical methods to characterize new materials, in collaboration with the analytical department.
• Strong scientific writing skills for technical reports, patent disclosures, and data summaries.

Compensation Information

The hiring salary range for this position ranges from $104,000 to $148,500, although individuals may eventually progress through the pay scale in this role up to $165,000. Actual compensation will be dependent upon the specific role as well as the individual’s qualifications, experience, skills, and certifications. Hired applicant will be eligible to receive annual bonuses.

Employees (and their families) will be eligible for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in our company’s 401k plan. Employees will also receive paid time off and the mandated company holidays throughout the calendar year.

Have we got your interest?
 

This is a permanent, onsite position on a full-time basis, reporting to Section Manager- Product Chemistry and based in Bridgewater, NJ.  

Please apply via our online recruitment system. We will not accept applications via e-mail. Once it's with us we will review to see if we have a match between your skills and the role! For more information about our hiring process, visit: nouryon.com/careers/how-we-hire/  

We look forward to receiving your application! 

We kindly ask our internal candidates to apply with your Nouryon email via Success Factors.