Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC is accepting applications for a Chemist in the Rubber and Plastics Laboratory, Research and Development Department.

Job Summary: Responsible for formulating, compounding, mixing, and testing of compounds for all segments of rubber, plastics, and polyurethane foam industries. Assist in the development of technical data and the writing of Laboratory Reports, Technical Data Sheets and other promotional literature. Provide technical support to customers and make technical presentations as required (including customer visits as needed).

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Perform formulating, compounding, mixing, and testing of compounds for all segments of the rubber, plastics, and polyurethane foam industries.
• Write Laboratory Reports as required.
• Provide technical support to customers, sales force, and other internal departments.
• Assist in the preparation of technical literature.
• Make technical presentations as necessary, including customer visits.
• Assist in the development of technical data to support sales of new and existing products.
• Follow all Rubber & Plastics Laboratory quality system procedures for ISO-9001 and make suggestions to improve those procedure

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in science or engineering.
• Good written and verbal skills required.
• 2-5 years experience preferred, interaction with customers a plus.

Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC is accepting applications for a Senior Level Research Chemist in the Research & Development Department.

Job Summary: Responsible for executing laboratory research towards developing new product candidates, which are intended for manufacture primarily at our chemical plants and secondarily toll-manufactured.  Considers all available information in identifying new product candidates such as manufacturing capability, cost of raw materials, safety factors, hazard of synthesis, and other chemical information.  Also responsible for supporting process improvements, evaluating candidates for patent consideration, and coordinating patenting efforts.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop new antioxidants, anti-wear/EP additives, corrosion inhibitors, rust inhibitors, friction modifiers, and organometallic compounds intended for production at Vanderbilt Chemicals’ plants or designated toll-manufacturers.
• Perform literature, patent, and electronic database searches to develop novel strategies for new additive products or technologies that solve critical petroleum industry needs in oxidation and deposit control, fuel economy, next generation e-mobility concerns, and overall lubricant robustness and durability.
• Support process improvement, reaction scale up, laboratory sample preparation, process optimization and new product development initiatives for Vanderbilt’s business, manufacturing and tolling sites.
• Provide expertise for working with 1 Liter pressure (Parr) reactors. Manage all aspects of pressure reactor set-up, maintenance, and safety.
• Work independently and in collaboration with other chemists and engineers to develop new technologies and improve existing products/manufacturing processes.
• Execute laboratory syntheses in support of new ideas and collaborate with the Petroleum Applications and Analytical Groups to evaluate candidates for suitability and effectiveness.
• File patents on promising new technologies that are identified. Provide support for product risk and regulatory issues. Write internal technical reports on progress of projects.
• Prepare and present papers at industry technical conferences and select customers when requested by business and sales.
• In accordance with the Company’s ISO 9001 protocols and procedures, maintain laboratory equipment, instruments, and notebooks; manage documentation for research projects including New Product Profiles, Design Plans, and Business Cases; and participate in annual internal and external audits for research and development activities.
• Via the Company’s Integrated Business Planning Process, steward new technologies from bench-scale to pilot plant and eventually commercialization.

Job Requirements:

• Ph. D. in Synthetic Organic or Organometallic Chemistry (both preferred)
• Additional post-doctoral or work experience (5-10 years)
• Previous experience in using high pressure systems (Parr reactors) for synthetic transformations strongly preferred
• Process development and scale-up skills preferred
• Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills