Materials Engineer II - Polymer Chemist

About HCC/CCI

Henry Crown & Company/CC Industries is a Chicago-based, privately-held company that manages business, philanthropic, and family interests on behalf of a multi-generational family.  The business ventures fall into broadly-defined categories: wholly-owned operating companies, public and private equity investments, and real estate. The enterprise also supports individual and collective giving through Crown Family Philanthropies and provides traditional family office services across generations. The enterprise employs approximately 350 professionals in the areas of investment management, corporate development, financial operations, tax, research and innovation, human resources, information technologies, and legal.

Why work for us?

We are a private enterprise with more than a 100-year legacy and track record of financial success, supporting our communities, and taking care of our employees.  We plan strategically with a long-term time horizon and an integrated approach to access superior opportunities and optimize financial results.  Integrity, collaboration, and dedication are cornerstones of our workplace culture that create rewarding professional experiences.

Position Description

At CCI, our materials engineering researchers work directly with multi-disciplinary project teams to understand key manufacturing and product challenges and determine how material developments and surface treatment technologies can be used to solve them. This includes problem assessment, material development & characterization, application development and testing, prototyping, and more. Our team members are an integral part of the Center eco-system, contributing to a dynamic environment of multiple projects, collaborating with colleagues from various CCI operating companies, Virginia Tech faculty & students, suppliers, and other applied research centers.

As a Materials Engineer, you will provide team guidance founded on a theoretical basis tempered by industrial experiences to shape durable solutions. You will contribute to the Center leadership helping to shape the methodologies and processes utilized across a broad spectrum of materials.

Responsibilities:

• Excel at problem definition; work effectively with open ended or complex problem statements and/or applications and be comfortable in adapting strategies according to results.
• Transform customer specifications into exploratory projects leading to proof-of-concept and then prototype product and process designs.
• Forecast and plan for the effect a new product or material development will have on manufacturing, operations, and material/chemical supply chain when ready for commercialization.
• Approach work with a collaborative, team first mentality; proactive, positive with a can-do attitude.
• Maintain a safe working environment and utilize safe work practices in the office, manufacturing spaces, and at production facilities.
• Contribute to the technology transfer from lab to production environment.
• Interface with other research institutions for sponsored research.
• Be an effective steward of project budgets and schedules.
• Contribute to the development of the group through mentorship.
• Provide explanations on polymer materials and the processes to which they are made, applied, and fabricated as an internal Subject Matter Expert
• Collaborate and support CCI operating companies and partners throughout project lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain a network within the CCI operating companies and collaborative partners.

Qualifications:

• PhD preferred and MS - Degree in Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Chemical, or similar engineering/science background required. 
• 5+ years of experience in a polymer-related field
• Polymer chemist, or scientist with preferrable experience in coatings, adhesives, plastics, and composites.
• Experience in polymer synthesis/formulation and thermoset curing chemistries.
• Knowledge or experience of surface treatments and cleaning techniques such as plasma, flame annealing, UV-ozone, sonication etc.
• Experience or knowledge in material characterization techniques (e.g., FESEM, optical microscopy, TGA, Mass Spec, DMA, DSC, Rheometry, FTIR, LIBS, Universal Testing, GPLC etc.) and how to interpret such results. Does not need to be a characterization specialist.
• Experience with Excel, MS Teams, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of material product and/or process development/design preferrable.
• Experience of working cross functionally with original equipment manufacturers, consumer facing product companies, external academic research partners and material/chemical supply chain vendors.
• Experience of working on existing or new products/materials which were commercial or commercialized. (Preferable)
• Experience working in or leading diverse project teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; clearly conveys ideas at both technical and non-technical levels; must be an active listener.
• Ability to travel up to 20 percent of the time.
   

The Starting Salary Range: $108k - $119k. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location. To see an overview of all our benefits please go to our career portal here.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals experiencing disability and BIPOC are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At CC Industries we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.