Lab Formulation Chemist

Role details

Job Description Big Dog Adhesives is seeking an experienced and innovative Lab Formulation Chemist to join our Research & Development team. This individual will be responsible for developing new adhesive formulations, improving existing products, troubleshooting customer applications, and supporting production with technical expertise.

The ideal candidate enjoys solving complex technical challenges, thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and has a passion for developing industry-leading adhesive technologies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Formulate and develop new adhesive products across multiple chemistries including:
• Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
• Epoxies
• Cyanoacrylates
• Anaerobics
• Acrylic Adhesives
• UV Cure Adhesives
• Polyurethane Systems
• MS Polymer Technologies
• Improve existing formulations for:
• Performance
• Cost reduction
• Manufacturing efficiency
• Shelf life
• Color stability
• Environmental compliance
• Conduct laboratory testing including:
• Tensile strength
• Shear strength
• Peel testing
• Cure profile analysis
• Viscosity
• Hardness
• Environmental and accelerated aging studies
• Evaluate competitive products through reverse engineering and benchmarking.
• Support manufacturing by troubleshooting production issues and assisting with process improvements.
• Work alongside Sales, Marketing, Technical Support, and Operations to develop products that meet customer requirements.
• Investigate customer product performance concerns and determine root causes.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks, formulation records, and test reports.
• Assist with regulatory compliance, SDS preparation, and technical documentation.
• Recommend raw material alternatives when necessary due to cost or availability.
• Stay current with emerging adhesive technologies, raw materials, and industry trends.

QualificationsRequired

• Bachelor's degree in:
• Chemistry
• Polymer Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• or related field
• 3\+ years of formulation experience in adhesives, coatings, sealants, composites, or related chemical manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of polymer chemistry.
• Excellent laboratory practices and documentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred

• Experience with structural adhesive technologies.
• Experience formulating:
• MMA
• Epoxy
• Cyanoacrylate
• Acrylic
• UV Cure
• Polyurethane
• Knowledge of ASTM testing methods.
• Experience scaling laboratory formulations into production.
• Familiarity with quality systems and ISO manufacturing.