Technical Specialist / Chemist - Epoxy Resins & Formulations

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.​

Key Responsibilities

1. Integrated Resin Synthesis & Formulation Development

• Design and conduct resin syntheses in laboratory reactors, applying deep understanding of reaction mechanisms, structure–property relationships, and thermoset chemistry.
• Define and optimize reaction conditions (raw material selection and ratios, catalysts, temperature profile, solvents, fillers) to achieve targeted properties such as viscosity, solids content, reactivity, and mechanical/thermal performance.
• Develop complete epoxy systems (resins, curing agents, reactive diluents, fillers, additives) and balance formulation requirements across performance, processing and stability.
• Prepare and cure representative test specimens or panels using relevant application methods and perform standard tests.

2. Technical Support to Commercial team

• Translate customer questions into structured experimental programs with clear hypotheses, milestones, and deliverables.
• Generate technical reports, presentations, and data packages that enable Sales to communicate effectively with global customers and partners.
• Benchmark solutions against competitive systems and articulate differentiated value based on data and scientific understanding.
• Provide support for:
  • Customer projects (new application evaluations, product comparisons, qualification trials).
  • Customer troubleshooting (e.g. cleanliness/stability issues, viscosity drift, defects, off‑spec performance).
  • Internal quality or process deviations involving epoxy products.

3. Lab Operations, Quality & Safety

• Champion best practice in laboratory safety, experimental rigor, and documentation, fully complying with Westlake HSE, QMS, and Management of Change (MOC) requirements.
• Ensure appropriate PPE and safe handling of chemicals; support continuous improvement initiatives in lab safety and ergonomics.
• Document methods, experiments, and results in line with QMS expectations, supporting audits and contributing to method standardization across sites.

4. Cross‑functional Collaboration

Work closely with: Sales, Marketing team and Product Manager serving epoxy markets. Work with R&D, Process Technology, Production, and Quality teams to ensure robust product introduction and stable manufacturing.

Qualifications

PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related discipline, with focus on thermosets, epoxies, or related polymer systems.

Education and/or research experience in a relevant field (e.g. polymer synthesis labs, formulation research groups).

Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and communicate complex experimental work (publications, patents, or industrial projects).

Industrial experience in epoxy, thermoset, or coatings/formulation labs is an advantage but outstanding PhD graduates are also considered.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here. You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.