Entry Level Chemist

UW Interco, LLC

Purpose: The Entry Level Chemist will perform chemical coating testing procedures required to develop new products. The candidate will assist in defining new formulations or modifying existing formulas to meet current business opportunities. This will be accomplished by following a coating recipe, applying the prepared material, then curing the coating material on specific substrates according to standard procedures and protocols.

The Duties and Responsibilities of The Entry Level Chemist Will Include

• This position is a full-time exempt position with focus on the wood, flooring, and energy curable system markets.
• The basic function of the Lab Technician is to provide assistance in generating technical solutions for energy curable products, air dry curing systems, wood stains, sealers, and topcoat products for the company’s Technical Department. This position shall be responsible for assisting in the development of new formulated products and the improvement of existing products. This includes formulation work, raw material screening, and color matching as well as assisting in the product qualifications at current or new customer locations.

Specific Responsibilities

• Assist in research of new technologies that apply to company product development. Ability to understand and learn current technologies and apply concepts.
• Provides service support and investigate performance issues to support the Technical Service Staff.
• Assist in the development and recommends specifications & quality control limits of all raw materials that will be used in the manufacturing of all new company products. Documents specification in company software. Provides reports and documents detailing project processes, results, and conclusions; recommends additional actions or research.
• Assist in the formulation work required to develop new products and reformulation of existing products. Provides feedback, test results, and data regarding the formulation process and recommends modifications to formulas.
• Strong attention to details and follows directions carefully.
• Maintain a lab book and related databases as a means of documenting and providing a written record of testing procedures and observations.
• Serves as a team member for projects and provides professional technical support to product development, quality control, manufacturing processes, and technical customer service.

General Responsibilities

• Continually learn more about the product and those application techniques, methods and processes that meet the needs of prospective end-users
• Learn or possess a working knowledge for energy curable systems with emphasis on wood substrates.
• Learn or posses a working knowledge of water-based air-dried pigmented system for wood applications.
• Strive to maintain conversance with the product’s physical properties, chemical composition, manufacturing considerations, difficulties, and costs
• Team minded person who can maintain a close working relationship with all company departments and their members
• Demonstrate and promote the concept and advantages of being internally cooperative while externally competitive
• Actively support all Company policies, with special attention to safety, health, personal bias, and poor conduct issues
• Participate and fully support the company Quality System and any other activities necessary to support the management and effective functioning of the company
• Attend and participate in all Company-wide meetings, customer coating trials, lectures, and events
• Ability to understand SDS information and follow safety processes
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Educational/Job Requirements

• High school graduate with science-oriented background or related experience with preference in the coating development 
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Familiar with color and color matching software
• Familiar with formulation ERP systems, Batchmaster software is a plus
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer and standing and working in a laboratory environment.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
• Exposure to various chemicals and compounds.
• Excellent mathematical skills.
• Ability to understand chemical tests and processes.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Mechanical aptitude and analytical and problem-solving skills.

Apogee and our brands are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.