ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 200 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenues totaling $14.1 billion in 2019. The company’s seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 45,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture. www.itw.com. 

Polymers & Fluids segment is composed of highly branded products serving diverse markets that require value-added, differentiated solutions. These product offerings include adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants, additives, and cleaners for Transportation, Electronics, automotive aftermarket, MRO, Industrial Cleaning and Lubrication, New Energy, and Marine industry customers with unique needs. ITW differentiates through leading brand positions, technology, and innovation, and strong focus on specific niche opportunities. PPF East Asia is a division with regional headquarter in China and we have operations cross Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and countries in Southeast Asia.

Our Research and Development team plays an important role in our business and product development success. As a Senior Chemist, you will get to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, leveraging your entrepreneurial spirit, investigative abilities, and customer-relationship skills, to create great product development outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of driving innovation and growth for a Division within a market-leading, Fortune 200 organization! 

ITW’S BUSINESS MODEL & CULTURE:

• We have an environment shaped by our decentralized, entrepreneurial culture that brings our exciting ideas to life. Our people thrive in our “flexibility within the framework” approach.
• We are committed to providing you with growth and development opportunities that maximize your unique potential.
• Our culture empowers you to think and act like a business owner – we want your entrepreneurial spirit to thrive!
• Be a part of One ITW/One Team, where everyone’s contribution matters in our quest to achieve our full potential.
• We live by our Core Values:
  • We focus on the essential core of each business opportunity, fostering simplicity in how we think and execute.
  • We gain strength through trial and error and work as a team through jointly sharing risk .
  • We treat our customers and suppliers with integrity and transparency and constantly strive to do the right thing.
  • We deeply respect diversity at every level of the company and consequently promote an open environment where innovations can emerge from our various backgrounds and experiences.
  • We trust our team members and are confident that they each work to the highest professional standards and in the company’s best interests.

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS JOB IF YOU ARE/HAVE…

• Are an entrepreneurial self-starter. You take initiative and ownership of your surroundings and constantly seek to find ways to improve.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment that keeps you on your toes – you love a good challenge and stay calm under pressure.
• Have a passion for innovation and creating new technologies to solve customer pain points and market applicability.
• Are resilient. You enjoy finding solutions to complex challenges and do so with poise and resolve.
• Love putting together the pieces of a puzzle and constantly seek to understand the whole picture.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development of new acrylic, polyurethane, and/or epoxy adhesive products or technologies for alternative energy, transportation, wear & abrasion, and general industrial markets.
• Innovate with polymers, catalysts, modifiers, and monomers in adhesives and coatings to fulfill unmet customer/application needs for developing differentiated products and solutions while complying with adopted ISO requirements.
• Manage technical aspects of assigned projects within ITW’s stage-gate process in conjunction with a project manager.
• Clearly identify project goals, product design requirements, technical approach, test strategy, and conduct laboratory evaluations and issue final comprehensive reports.
• Conduct patent searches to monitor competitive innovations and generate intellectual property in own area of development in the form of patents, formulation know-how, and trade secrets.
• Lead the scale-up of formulations from lab scale to mid- and full-size commercial batches. Coordinate and work with internal departments on the technology transfer for scale-up, and commercialization, and determine the appropriate design and product specifications to maximize ease of manufacturing and customer application. 
• Provide short- and long-term support for current products to maintain ITW’s reputation for quality and performance by qualifying alternative sources of raw materials and validating performance. 
• Manage multiple projects/tasks independently and as part of a team and fully utilize analytical laboratory equipment.
• Work hands-on in the laboratory, when necessary, and manage the daily activities of a research lab technician(s).
• Understand and stay abreast of important safety and regulatory requirements affecting existing products and new products being developed.
• Provide training in subject-matter expertise to new employees.
• Promote, support, and adhere to all safety, environmental, and quality policies and procedures.

• Advanced degree in Organic or Polymer Chemistry. PhD preferred.
• 10 years of industrial R&D experience in product development roles preferred. 
• Adhesives and coatings formulation experience highly preferred.
• Proven track record of successfully developing new and innovative products with significant revenue impact required.
• Solid knowledge of structure-property relationships in adhesive and coating materials is highly preferred.
• Extensive experience with polymer testing and characterization equipment (Instron, DMA, DSC, FT-IR, rheometers, TMA, TGA, GC-MS, and other spectroscopic and chemical analysis equipment).
• Strong computer and organizational skills are required. Proficiency with Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Willing to collaborate and work in cross-functional teams to advance ideas and projects.
• Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and investigative skills.
• Must be a practical, hands-on chemist/scientist with excellent formulation skills and problem-solving ability.
• Track record of technical capabilities evidenced by patents and published peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Travel to customers for technical support, product introduction, line trials, Voice-of-Customer meetings, is required (approximately 5-10%).

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. 

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.