Lead R&D Engineer​/Scientist

Job Description

When you join Solstice, you become a member of our global team of thinkers, innovators, dreamers and doers who make the things that make the future.

Solstice Advanced Materials is a global supplier of fluorine products, fine chemicals, additives, metals, films and fibers for products including pharmaceuticals, refrigeration, semiconductors and military protection. Solstice Advanced Materials is making the world safer, cleaner and enabling the modernization of a growing middle class by enhancing our customer offerings through a differentiated portfolio of chemistries, materials, value‑added solutions and superior customer service.

Our mission is to attract, retain and develop diverse and highly motivated, entrepreneurial employees striving to flawlessly deliver superior value to our customers every day.

This is a Lead R&D Engineer/Scientist role for leading process development and improvement to support new product commercialization and productivity improvement projects for Solstice. The position will be based in Buffalo NY, USA.

• Familiarity in various types of unit operations including reactions, distillations, filtrations, and handling of highly hazardous materials
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills with typical chemical process equipment (Pumps, agitators, instrumentation, utilities, etc.)
• Perform & lead full range of process development work including assignments requiring expertise in both fields of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• Require coordination of different functions of R&D, including the design and construction of process development scale equipment, technical staff supervision, analytical requirements, physical property measurements, collection and reporting of experimental results, piloting and demonstration, etc.
• Play a role in the development of liquid and/or vapor phase manufacturing technologies with or without catalysts
• Work with engineers in Manufacturing and Engineering in cost reduction initiatives and technology improvements for existing fluorocarbon manufacturing processes
• Be able to develop manufacturing technologies as well as patent portfolios to protect the same
• Strict adherence to established safety policies and procedures
• Must be able wear all types of PPE and respiratory equipment as appropriate

• BS degree in Chemical Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in R&D, process engineering, or process development

• MS / Ph.D. degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• A proven track record of success in academic and/or industrial research work
• Experience in designing, constructing and commissioning integrated bench scale reaction unit / pilot plant
• Experience with instrumentation, data acquisition and control system software is a plus
• Additional experience in fluorocarbon manufacturing will be considered as a plus
• Experience/skills that include in-depth knowledge of physical chemistry, thermodynamics , chemical kinetics, reaction engineering and catalysis
• Fundamental knowledge of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, transport phenomena and unit operations is preferred as well
• Leadership skills, experience & qualities
• Project management and project leadership experiences
• Team orientation with excellent interpersonal skills – ability to lead, motivate, and mentor others
• Self-starter, with the ability to analyze and solve complex problems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

In addition to a competitive salary, leading-edge work, and developing solutions side-by-side with dedicated experts in their fields, Solstice Advanced Materials employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. This package includes employer-subsidized Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance;
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability; 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, EAP, and Educational Assistance;
Parental Leave, Paid Time Off (for vacation, personal business, sick time, and parental leave), and 12 Paid Holidays.

The annual base salary range for this position is $145,000-$185,000. Please note that this salary information serves as a general…