Senior Synthesis Chemist – Foam Additives & Polyurethane Systems

Role details

Candidates must be willing to relocate to the Greater Chicago area; relocation assistance is provided.

A global manufacturer of specialty chemical intermediates is seeking a hands-on Senior Synthesis Chemist specializing in foam additives and polyurethane technologies .

Based in our primary R&D laboratory in the Greater Chicago area, you will lead the design, bench-scale synthesis, and performance testing of custom additives—including silicone surfactants, amine catalysts, specialty polyols, cell openers, and processing aids—tailored for flexible, rigid, microcellular, and spray foam applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Additive Synthesis & Design: Design and execute multi-step bench synthesis for functional foam additives, including silicone surfactants, alkoxylated intermediates, modified polyethers, and specialized catalyst systems.
• Foam Formulation & Testing: Evaluate new additive chemistry in bench-scale foam formulations (hand-mix and lab machine trials) to measure processing parameters (cream, gel, tack-free, and rise times) and physical properties (cell structure, airflow, density, compression set, and insulation performance).
• Structure-Property Optimization: Systematically correlate chemical structure modifications (e.g., HLB balance, siloxane chain length, functionalization) with performance in various foaming systems.
• Process Scale-Up: Collaborate with process engineering and manufacturing teams to safely transition promising additive molecules from lab bench scale to commercial production.
• Technical Support & Innovation: Partner with Technical Directors and Commercial Sales Managers to analyze customer technical challenges and develop customized additive solutions for high-performance foam markets.

Key Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Surface Chemistry, or Materials Science ( required ).
• Experience: 5\+ years of industrial R&D experience in synthetic chemistry, specifically focused on polyurethane foam chemistries and functional foam additives .
• Core Technical Expertise: Hands-on mastery in synthesizing silicone surfactants, specialized catalysts, functional polyols, or cell regulators, alongside deep familiarity with polyurethane formulation mechanics.
• Relocation Requirement: Must be willing to relocate to the Greater Chicago area ( relocation package provided ).
• Analytical Capability: Strong background in surface/interface physical chemistry, structural characterization (NMR, FTIR, GPC), and standard polyurethane foam physical testing methods.