Senior Scientist

Position Overview

Novelis is one of the world leaders in aluminum recycling and rolling and a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider. Driven by our purpose of “shaping a sustainable world together,” we work alongside our customers to provide innovative solutions to the aerospace, automotive, beverage packaging and specialty markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Novelis has approximately 13,000 employees in 32 operating facilities on 4 continents. 

 

The Senior Surface Scientist is a key member of the Surface & Coating Cluster in Novelis R&D Center located in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Senior Surface Scientist is responsible for completing fundamental and applied research, as well as leading projects in product and process innovation. The candidate should have strong background in polymer science, including fundamental understanding of and hands-on experience with synthesis, formulation and characterization of coatings, paints, adhesives or lubricants. This role also values experience in surface functionalization and texturing methods such as laser ablation, chemical etching, conversion coating, lithography or similar, and in-depth understanding of such surfaces.

 

The Senior Surface Scientist will work with and lead multi-disciplinary teams to deliver maximum impact on the speed and depth of aluminum sheet product research and development. The incumbent will also drive and support research activities to improve processes for Novelis’ aluminum sheet products toward enhanced performance, efficiency, and recyclability. This position will have the opportunity to lead projects; engage with associates in the plants, commercial teams, regional research centers; disseminate technical findings at internal conferences and peer reviewed journals.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Responsibilities:

• Lead and perform fundamental and applied surface science research to develop new products and processes for greater performance of Novelis aluminum sheet products in Automotive, Beverage packaging and Specialties applications.
• Develop novel concepts in the field of surface functionalization by chemical or physical means to improve product performance, and realize those concepts through a stage-gate process.
• Develop mechanistic understanding, grow technical proficiency, and apply technological convergence in surface science relevant to aluminum sheet products together with broader science and engineering fields.
• Provide technical leadership in polymer science, including structure-process-property relationships at the bulk and interface levels, especially in connection with aluminum surface.
• Lead development and deployment of sophisticated characterization techniques and methods to address existing and emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Train, mentor and transfer knowledge with other colleagues within the cluster and beyond.
• Complete projects as an individual contributor, package lead or project manager in collaboration with multi-disciplinary cross-functionality scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians, through planning, resourcing, monitoring, addressing final delivery of outcomes with proper accountability and timely business impact.
• Support initiatives in cultivating external partnerships with research institutions, universities and industry consortia to bring together new technologies in surface and interface sciences and participate in pre-competitive research.
• Generate and safeguard intellectual properties for new products, processes and techniques to maintain and extend competitive advantages of Novelis in the market.
• Exemplify respect for environmental, health and safety principles.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, or a closely related field, with strong emphasis on polymer science.
• Minimum of 7 years work experience after PhD completion in industrial R&D or in partnership with industry.
• Proven track record of leading and successful delivery of research from laboratory to market.
• Hands-on experience in synthesis or formulation of polymeric coatings, specifically to improve chemical and physical characteristics for surface-critical applications.
• Experience in characterization and measurement techniques, especially for surfaces and interfaces of different materials including metals and polymers, such as SEM/EDS, XPS, TEM, FTIR, ToF-SIMS, XRF, OES, AFM, SKP, UV-Vis, etc.
• Technical leadership experience in an R&D setting with demonstration of good project management and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Broad science and engineering background and ability to connect knowledge across multiple subject areas.
• Ability to work independently and within teams.
• International o