Polymer Development Chemist

With our strong investment in research and development and our culture of continuous improvement, Hexcel is the industry leader in the manufacturing of advance composite materials, including carbon fiber, woven reinforcements, resins, prepregs, honeycombs and additive manufactured parts. We invite you to join the Hexcel team at various manufacturing sites, sales offices, and R&T centers around the globe. Become a part of the "strength within."

Hexcel is currently seeking a Polym er Development Chemist for our Decatur, AL, USA, location.

The selected individual will be responsible for but not limited to the following obligations:

• Work as key member of PAN precursor/carbon fiber research team to combine skills required to advance performance and reduce costs of carbon fiber products.
• Develop and apply laboratory synthetic routes, formulation, and characterization methods to sustain chemical advances for polyacrylonitrile precursor and carbon fiber.
• Evaluate scale-up feasibility of developed chemistry from bench to pilot plant to industrial scale.
• Maintain a knowledge of plant manufacturing processes and participate on teams to solve plant problems or upgrade plant capabilities, as necessary.
• Maintain awareness of the technical literature in the field and recommend new work based on knowledge of this literature and/or competitive situation.
• Analyze, interpret, and document experimental results in monthly reports. Clearly communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure all laboratory practices comply with safety protocols and environmental regulations.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, or other highly related field with a demonstrated technical mastery of molecular design and synthesis of polymeric materials. Ability to elucidate chemical mechanisms and working knowledge of advanced analytical techniques is also required.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial research experience focused on polymer chemistry. Experience with synthetic fiber spinning, polyacrylonitrile, and/or carbon fiber is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of technical curiosity, hands-on experimental work, and ability to translate data into actionable insights, leading to innovation and solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to translate laboratory-scale insights to pilot and commercial scale. Direct experience conducting trials in a laboratory, pilot plant, and plant environments is highly desirable.
• Possesses a deep understanding of fundamental physical/chemical properties and structure-property relationships. Ability to conduct complex chemical experiments is a must.
• Strong project management skills with a demonstrated ability to work both as an individual contributor and as a cross-functional team member managing multiple projects.

Eligible candidates must be a: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, person lawfully admitted for permanent residence, temporary resident under sections 210(a) or 245(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, person admitted in refugee status, or person granted asylum. Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) is a global leader in advanced composites technology, a leading producer of carbon fiber, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry.

Hexcel is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected class.