Senior Polymer Chemist

**Senior Polymer Chemist** **Location: North Charleston, South Carolina** **\*Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates. \*** The Senior Polymer Chemist will lead the development, formulation, and optimization of elastomeric materials used in electrical safety products, including insulating gloves and sleeves. This role will serve as a technical leader across R&D and manufacturing, driving innovation in low dielectric, high-performance rubber systems while ensuring compliance with applicable safety and performance standards. This role will also play a critical role in bridging material science, process engineering, and product performance, with a strong focus on scalable formulations, reliability, and regulatory compliance. **This is an onsite position in North Charleston, SC.** **JOB RESPONSIBILITIES** **Formulation & Material Development** - Lead formulation of elastomer compounds using materials such as, Natural Rubber (NR), Bromo butyl / Butyl Rubber, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomers - Optimize formulations for dielectric strength / electrical insulation performance, mechanical durability (tensile, elongation, tear resistance) and environmental resistance (ozone, heat, moisture, chemicals) - Evaluate additives including curatives, accelerators, plasticizers, fillers, and stabilizers **Process & Manufacturing Integration** - Partner with manufacturing teams to scale formulations from lab to production - Support mixing, calendaring, dipping, and curing processes - Troubleshoot processing issues (e.g., viscosity control, dispersion, cure kinetics) - Drive continuous improvement in yield, scrap reduction, and cycle times **Product Performance & Compliance** - Ensure materials meet applicable industry standards (e.g., ASTM, IEC for electrical PPE) - Lead testing protocols for dielectric breakdown, aging, and physical properties - Support certification and audit processes related to safety compliance **Technical Leadership** - Act as a subject matter expert for elastomer chemistry across the organization - Mentor junior chemists and lab technicians - Interface with suppliers to evaluate new raw materials and technologies - Provide technical input to product development, sourcing, and quality teams **Innovation & Strategy** - Identify opportunities for next-generation materials (e.g., improved flexibility, lighter weight, enhanced dielectric properties) - Stay current on advancements in polymer science and electrical insulation materials - Support IP development, where applicable **REQUIREMENTS** - Five or more years of experience and a Master's degree or a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field, with deep experience in elastomer formulation and development. - Prior experience with rubber compounding and curing systems (sulfur, peroxide, etc.) - Prior experience with dielectric or insulating material applications - Strong understanding of Structure-property relationships in elastomers and rheology, cure kinetics, and compound processing with elastomeric materials - Experience with lab instrumentation (e.g., MDR, DSC, TGA, tensile testing, dielectric testing) - Experience supporting manufacturing scale-up