Chemist

Position:                      Chemist – composites formulation

Reports to:                          R&D Group Leader or R&D Manager

Location:                            Polynt Composites USA –  North Kansas City, MO

About Polynt Composites USA:

Polynt Composites USA is a global leader in the manufacturing of composites, coatings, and chemical intermediates, serving key industries such as industrial, transportation, construction, marine, medical, and consumer goods.

At Polynt the primary purpose of the Chemist is to advance corporate goals related to the development, commercialization and industrialization of new products as well as supporting existing technologies. 

With direction of a supervisor and/or mentor, chemists are expected to safely produce high quality lab work related but not limited to:

• Preparation of chemical formulations and prototypes via synthesis or blending
• Preparation of test articles using end customer processes
• Testing chemical formulations, prototypes and test parts via chemical analyses, quality control testing, mechanical property testing and/or application testing

Lab work is typically related to new product/process development, product enhancement/process improvement, existing product support, raw material evaluations, plant support, customer formulation support, and/or technical assistance. 

Assignments typically focus on a specific technology area with exposure to other areas, depending on organizational needs, performance, etc.

The role is primarily laboratory-based, with minimal administrative duties

Key Responsibilities:

• Health and Safety

• • Performs work in accordance with the appropriate Polynt Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) ensuring personal and team safety
  • Maintains housekeeping in individual and shared workspaces
  • Conducts inspections as assigned.
  • Ensures that others meet health and safety standards and provides guidance when needed.
  • Leads safety topic(s) in weekly safety meeting
  • Participates in the following as needed:  Health and Safety Committee, Review of chemical hygiene plan, Job safety analysis (JSA), Risk assessments, Incident investigations, Management of change (MOC)
• Lab/Project Work – Conducts lab/project work related to one or more of the following:  Product/process development (synthesis and/or blending), Polynt plant support, chemical analyses and mechanical testing, customer formulation assistance or purchasing support.
  • Maintains lab equipment through preventative maintenance, verification, and calibration.  Reports any equipment malfunctions. 
  • Ensures that lab equipment inventory is maintained.
  • Executes experiments and tests following established test methods to ensure repeatable, reliable results.
  • Works with supervisor or designee on assigned projects to
    • Understand requirements of each project including benefits and risks.
    • Plan experiments
    • Set schedule based on project priorities and meet deadlines.
    • Write technical reports and/or create presentations summarizing results
    • Demonstrate critical thinking, ability to analyze results and recommend next actions
    • Enter/maintain projects on Polynt's project request system
• Polynt Plant Support (as applicable) – Provides technical support to Polynt’s manufacturing sites for commercial products by
  • Assisting plants with batch adjustments
  • Transferring products between plants (in-country)
  • Providing in-person support at a plant for scale-up or process improvement work
  • Participating in plant quality meetings
  • Developing knowledge of manufacturing processes, site capabilities and site personnel.  
• Customer Formulation Assistance (as applicable) – Assists Polynt customers with creating formulations using Polynt products. 
  • Understands components used in external customer product formulations including their function, typical levels
  • Formulates products resembling what is produced by Polynt's customer for testing/comparison of Polynt and/or benchmarking of competitive products.  
• Purchasing Support – Qualifies raw materials by
  • Reviewing raw material usage
  • Creating a test plan based on and key properties/ functions.
  • Conducting lab/project work as described above.
  • Informing purchasing of project results.
  • Completing SAP tasks as needed.
• Specialization – Works to develop knowledge of a business unit in one of more chemistries, applications/market areas or processes.   Make contacts, under direction of the supervisor or designee, with other Polynt functional groups, suppliers and customer base.  Learn industry organizations, standards, certifications, etc.
• Organizational Knowledge
  • Orders raw materials and finished goods with supervisor approval.
  • Orders lab supplies with supervisor approval
  • Able to find/view test methods, work instructions, forms and other documents in SharePoint.
  • Able to request physical or analytical testing.
  • Has a working knowledge of Microsoft applications including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Word.
  • If applicable, works with supervisor or designee to complete Frontline scale-up process for formula revision or new product creation. 
  • Able to find basic information in SAP including, BOM's, inspections plans, inventories, orders, etc.
  • Able to find technical documents in the Polynt App and Host 2 Bulletin System.
• Trainor Mentor - Provides on the job training in laboratory procedures, test methods, day-to-day tasks.  Training may be for junior team members, R&D members from other groups, operations or commercial personnel.

Required qualifications:

• Minimum of a BS in Chemistry or related science
• 3-5 years’ experience with composites and formulation preferred
• Demonstrated proficiency in end use formulation and evaluation
• Ability to work independently and prioritize work effectively
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office products (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Understanding of and ability to apply experimental design and statistical data analysis techniques preferred.
• Open minded, creative, innovative and optimistic
• Unafraid of technical risk of failure
• Critical and analytical
• Working knowledge of the Hazardous Communications Standard  and knowledge of lab Standard (OSHA CFR 1910.1450)
• This position does not offer sponsorship for international students or other visa support, the candidate must be currently authorized to work in US for any employer.

 Work Environment Considerations

This job is not appropriate for individuals with chemical sensitivity. Employees who display sensitivity to the chemicals present at the site despite using standard required safety measures may be subject to reassignment or termination of employment.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Polynt fosters a culture of innovation, teamwork, and professional growth. Employees have opportunities for career progression and development. If you are a hands-on problem solver who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

At Polynt, we believe our employees are our greatest asset. We offer a stable, growth-driven work environment with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Sick Leave
• 401(k) with Company Match and Profit Sharing
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (PPO, HSA, FSA)
• Company-Paid Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

Equal Opportunity Employer

Polynt Composites USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local laws.