Rubber Chemist

Job Description

Insight Global is seeking a Rubber Chemist for a top manufacturing client. This candidate will join an innovative R&D team focused on the development, testing, and optimization of rubber compounds used in critical industrial applications. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in rubber compounding, elastomer technology, or polymer chemistry and will play a key role in product development, process improvement, and performance enhancement initiatives. This individual will collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to solve technical challenges, scale new formulations into production, and support continuous innovation within a growing organization. The role offers strong career growth potential for candidates looking to expand their impact within research and development.

• Develop and formulate new rubber compounds and improve existing formulations

• Support product development activities from concept through commercialization

• Conduct laboratory testing, material characterization, and performance evaluations

• Develop and validate test methodologies and procedures

• Analyze test data and make formulation recommendations

• Troubleshoot material, formulation, and processing issues within manufacturing operations

• Support scale-up activities from lab to production

• Work closely with quality, operations, engineering, and production teams

• Evaluate and qualify raw materials, additives, fillers, and curing systems

• Maintain technical documentation, reports, and regulatory records

• Ensure compliance with quality standards, safety requirements, and industry regulations o STSM standards, o Aerospace standards reporting – compliance, operations, quality, etc.

• Mentor junior chemists and laboratory personnel

• Collaborate with customers and key partners on product development projects

• Utilize and support laboratory information management systems (LIMS)

• Present technical findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and leadership teams

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or related field

• 5-10+ years of relevant industry experience o Hands-on rubber and silicone compounding and formulation development experience o Industry experience in manufacturing, industrial, or similar

• Experience with rubber material testing methods including tensile, rheology, hardness, and aging evaluations

• Ability to analyze test data and provide recommendations based on findings

• Experience supporting product development and process improvement initiatives

• Strong documentation and technical reporting skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Experience with compliance/quality standards & reporting

• Interest in mentoring and developing junior technical team members

• Coated textile experience – performance testing (smoke, fire, wear testing)

• Master's degree or PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or related discipline

• Experience with rubber injection molding, extrusion, or mixing processes

• Knowledge of additive selection, fillers, curing systems, and compound optimization

• Familiarity with industry standards and regulatory requirements

• Experience scaling laboratory formulations into manufacturing environments

• Previous R&D experience within rubber, elastomer, or polymer manufacturing

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].