Research Associate

POSITION SUMMARY:  This position is a hands-on laboratory bench chemist/engineer with good mechanical skills and knowledge that possesses a proactive attitude to get the job accomplished. He/She will be responsible for development of new products for the roofing, flooring, and building envelope industry.  The person will be responsible for developing asphaltic and non-asphaltic based membranes and products that require weathering, testing and product validation. The position requires developing laboratory prototypes, executing plant trial runs and testing finished product to ensure that codes and product fitness for use is met.  He/she will interface closely with other scientists to design, formulate, and develop processes, products, systems, and applications using polymer science and composite material designs.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO:
            

• Use advanced material characterization techniques to establish physical property testing of compounds and materials to final product performance. 
• Publish technical reports and communicate effectively at regular intervals on key projects as required. 
• Execute plant trials by transferring technology from small scale lab models to large scale plant production. Conduct and design testing internally and externally adhering to regional and third-party code agencies and guidelines.
• Generate ideas that will enhance existing products and lead to the development of new products, test procedures and protocols.
• Use of statistical analysis and design of experiments is required.
• Participate in the development of asphaltic and non-asphaltic products development.
• Working closely with partner companies and key raw material suppliers to advance the development of formulas, products, or processes. 
• Manage technical business support for new formulations and products including raw material qualification, benchmarking of competitive materials and products, system testing internally and at external laboratories. 
• Train and manage/direct R&D technicians as needed. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Requires proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Masters in Material Science, Polymer Science, or Mechanical Engineering with minimum 3 years’ experience in asphalt, adhesives, polymers, polymer modified asphalts or waterproofing membrane development is desired. 
• Bachelor of Science /Arts in Material Science, Polymer Science, or Mechanical Engineering with minimum 5 years’ experience in asphalt, adhesives, polymers, polymer modified asphalts or waterproofing membrane development is desired.

Location: On-site daily at lab in Deerfield Beach, FL

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