R&D Chemist - UV​/EB Liquid Ink Specialist | Low-Migration Packaging Expert

Pave Talent is conducting a specialized search for an R&D Chemist with 4+ years of direct UV liquid ink experience to join the third-largest ink producer in North America and a global leader in metal decorative inks (your work colors most beverage cans you see).

This is not an entry-level formulation role. We need someone who has lived and breathed UV flexographic and screen inks, understands the nuances of low-migration, food-safe formulation, and can step in as a technical leader from day one.

Why This Search is Different

Most UV chemists work with standard formulations. This role requires low-migration ink expertise—formulating with compliant materials that won't migrate into food packaging. You'll be working on:

• Food packaging (beverages, snacks, flexible films)
• Fertilizer bags and industrial labels
• UV/EB liquid inks that must adhere, cure fast, and meet FDA/EuPIA/Swiss Ordinance standards

What Sets You Apart (Must-Haves)

1. Direct UV Flexo or UV Screen Ink Formulation Experience (4+ years preferred)

• Not UV coatings for wood or metal—we need UV liquid inks for flexible packaging
• Experience formulating from scratch (not just tinting bases)
• Hands-on knowledge of photoinitiators, oligomers, monomers, and low-migration resin systems

2. Low-Migration & Food-Safe Compliance Knowledge

• Familiarity with Nestlé Guidelines, EuPIA exclusion lists, FDA indirect food contact regulations
• Experience with migration testing protocols (extractables/leachables analysis)
• Understanding of compliant raw material selection for food packaging applications

3. Printing Industry Background

• Direct experience with flexographic or screen printing processes
• Understanding of press-side troubleshooting: adhesion failures, cure speed issues, color matching on-press
• Ability to visit customer sites and diagnose problems in real printing environments

4. Technical Leadership Capabilities

• Can independently manage projects from concept to commercialization
• Comfortable interpreting analytical data (FTIR, GC-MS, rheology, DSC) and making formulation decisions
• Experience mentoring junior chemists or leading technical problem-solving sessions

Your Day-to-Day Impact

60% Fire-Fighting & Customer Problem-Solving

This isn't a pure R&D ivory tower role. You'll spend significant time:

• Diagnosing why an ink won't cure on a specific substrate (PET vs. OPP vs. PE films)
• Reformulating to solve adhesion or rub-resistance failures
• Working directly with customers via phone and occasional site visits (20% travel, mostly domestic)

30% New Product Development

• Leading low-migration shrink sleeve ink projects (current priority)
• Developing next-gen UV flexo systems with improved cost/performance ratios
• Evaluating new raw materials for cost-savings opportunities (10-15% target reductions)

10% Technical Support & Documentation

• Training manufacturing on scale-up procedures
• Writing technical reports for sales teams and customers
• Maintaining lab equipment and SOPs

The Ideal Candidate Background

• UV flexo ink R&D for narrow web or wide web label applications
• UV screen ink development for industrial graphics or packaging

You might have titles like:

• Formulation Chemist - Energy Curable Systems
• Technical Service Chemist (UV Flexo)
• Annual merit increases (typically 5%+, not the standard 3%)
• Relocation assistance available for the right candidate

Comprehensive Benefits from Day 1:

✓ Medical/Dental/Vision with HSA/FSA options

✓ 401(k) with company match

✓ Average employee tenure: 12 years (this says everything about culture)

Why this company?

• Industry Leader:
  Top manufacturer for metal deco inks—over 500 billion food packaging items colored by this company annually
• Experienced Team: 1/3 of the R&D chemist team has 15+ years of experience—you'll learn from the best
• Cutting-Edge Facilities:
  Modern equipment, autonomous work environment, collaborative culture
• Global Reach, Local Impact:
  Full-service subsidiaries in Europe and South America, but this West Chicago lab drives North American innovation
• Growth Trajectory:
  Tremendous expansion in flexible packaging division—your work directly impacts a growing $100M+ business unit

Ready to make your mark in low-migration packaging innovation?

Apply now—this role won't stay open long for the right candidate!