Advanced R&D Engineer

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world. Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient. Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Advanced R&D Chemist/Engineer to join of Avient’s research and development team. The Advanced R&D Chemist/Engineer will be responsible for the research and development of sustainable, polymer-enhancing solutions with an initial focus on the development of foaming technologies that create value for our customers.

Essential Functions

Conduct work in a safe, ethical and collaborative manner

Lead the development of products and technologies within existing and new markets

Drive innovation that enriches Avient’s intellectual property portfolio

Use statistical methods to drive experimentation and data interpretation

Apply technical project management skills to support platform development

Communicate and engage with internal and external stakeholders

Work with other functions such as marketing, sourcing, regulatory and commercial colleagues to drive forward projects

Other duties as and when required

Education and Experience

Essential:

MSc./PhD. in either Chemistry, Polymer Science/Engineering, Material Science

At least three years of industrial or academic research experience in the fields of either chemistry, petrochemicals, plastics, coatings, adhesives, rubber, polymer formulation, composites or polymer processing

Experience of working in a laboratory/material processing environment

Knowledge & experience of polymer characterization/analysis

Strong team working and communication skills

Strong competencies in use of Microsoft Office

Strong skills in the scientific method and use of design of experiments for data-driven research

Experience of designing and conducting experiments

Fluent in English.

Desirable:

At least five years of industrial experience in the fields of chemistry, petrochemicals, plastics, foaming, coatings, adhesives, rubber, polymer formulation, composites or polymer processing

Project management experience gained in either academic or industry

Knowledge & experience of analytical characterization techniques for rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of polymers

Prior experience in a technical role within a corporate innovation/R&D environment

Knowledge of the chemistry underpinning polymer foaming chemistries & techniques

Working knowledge of polymer processes including compounding with twin-screw extruders, injection molding, and extrusion

Experience in executing DOEs, and knowledge of relevant statistical software (StatEase, Minitab, SigmaPro or similar).

Essential Competencies:

The candidate will be required to present data and concepts to internal and external stakeholders regularly. Therefore, they must possess excellent presentation and communication skills, and be comfortable with public speaking.

The candidate must demonstrate excellent project management and organizational skills required to develop detailed project timelines with key milestones and deliverables

The candidate must be collaborative and work effectively across cross-functional teams to drive projects from lab-to-commercial scale.

The ideal candidate is an independent thinker and self-motivated to address technical challenges.

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

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