Senior R&D/TS&D Technician

At Dow, we believe in putting people first and we’re passionate about delivering integrity, respect and safety to our customers, our employees and the planet.  

Our people are at the heart of our solutions. They reflect the communities we live in and the world where we do business. Their diversity is our strength. We’re a community of relentless problem solvers that offers the daily opportunity to contribute with your perspective, transform industries and shape the future. Our purpose is simple - to deliver a sustainable future for the world through science and collaboration. If you’re looking for a challenge and meaningful role, you’re in the right place. 

About You and This Role:

The Dow Chemical Company has an exciting and challenging opportunity for a Senior R&D/TS&D Technician in the Industrial Coatings segment, part of Dow Coating Materials (DCM) located in Collegeville, PA. 

DCM provides innovative raw material technologies that help advance the performance and sustainability of a broad portfolio of polymeric binders, dispersants, rheology modifiers, surfactants, defoamers, and wetting agents for a wide variety of end markets, including paints, pavement markings, industrial coatings, paper coatings, metal packaging, and performance additives. 

DCM's product portfolio for Industrial Coatings includes a range of products and chemistries used to improve performance, ease of application, and sustainability of waterborne coatings across a range of end-use markets and applications including Paper Packaging, Pavement Markings, Industrial Asset Protection, and Liquid Applied Sound Dampening.  We offer a broad portfolio of technologies that are well-known in the industry and have earned a reputation for excellence. 

In this role you will provide laboratory support for a wide range of activities including new product development, customer-driven projects, and product & process improvements. You will have the opportunity to work closely with both the Applications R&D and Technical Service & Development teams on these activities.  Strong communication, project prioritization, and data organization skills are important for success.  Inclusion and diversity are critical to the Industrial Coatings team’s success, and we would love to include your unique perspectives to drive innovation, customer satisfaction, and profitable growth. 

Responsibilities:

• Work as part of a team in a laboratory supporting chemists and engineers in developing, screening, and commercializing new products.
• Interact and communicate effectively with Industrial Coatings R&D team to support delivery of innovation projects and generate strategic market-relevant data to drive new business development in partnership with project teams.
• Conduct a variety of formulation preparation and testing, including physical property characterization, application performance evaluations, and other testing as necessary.
• Conduct laboratory experiments with high degree of independence, effectively analyze and communicate results, and provide recommendations on next steps.
• Handle complex laboratory tasks including methods and procedures and recommend variations in problem-solving approach.
• Hold essential know-how on safe operation of small-scale and large-scale laboratory equipment and change management processes, and implement these to Dow standards.
• Ensure safe and reliable operation of laboratory equipment though equipment ownership, maintenance & troubleshooting, and calibration.
• Contribute to the acquisition of new equipment and capabilities, including equipment selection, installation, and drafting of safe operating procedures.
• Define and implement new testing methods for application development purposes which may require creating unique configurations of existing equipment or development/fabrication of new equipment, test methodologies, and documenting new procedures.
• Actively participate in work group team meetings to address safety, process improvement, problem solving, and other work group, department, and functional topics.
• Understand the value of high-quality data and utilize good laboratory techniques and practices to generate such data. Accurately and reliably record readings and observations using relevant equipment and instruments.
• Maintain inventories of consumable materials, chemicals, and supplies related to activities by anticipating usage rates, order lead times, and ordering/purchasing procedures.
• Use knowledge of relevant technology consisting of product, test methods, industry standards, and testing equipment to efficiently complete projects.
• Document laboratory findings in a timely and well-organized manner.
• Interact and communicate effectively with other groups and departments to streamline critical laborator