Coatings Development Engineer/Scientist, located onsite in Peoria, IL

The Mirum Coatings Engineering/Scientist role is a materials science and polymer chemistry focused position that will take novel biopolymers and extend their application into thin coatings. The successful engineer will apply knowledge of polymer rheology to processes that are used to produce thin film coatings (on textile backings).

This engineer will contribute to our exciting and fast-paced organization by conducting in-house experiments to elucidate the properties of Mirum that allow for usage in standard industrial equipment. This person will be a self-starter and comfortable in partnering with other manufacturing companies to adapt Mirum for use on their equipment. This person will be mentored by a senior formulator and work collaboratively with other development personnel on various aspects of material development. You will be assigned specific projects and development goals for which you will have primary responsibility.

What you will do:

• Develop novel Mirum formulations for use in the manufacture of coatings to solve unique application gaps.
• Test your formulations to rapidly guide your material development efforts
• Develop designed experiments to understand underlying polymer science & rheology effects
• Work will other team members collaboratively to move all development projects forward
• Partner with other manufacturing institutions to bring new materials to market
• Explore diverse means of product creation and identify sources of new process equipment

Requirements:

• Mechanical aptitude in the use of basic shop tools
• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry (or a related discipline) with an emphasis on polymer science, Masters or PhD degree preferred
• The ability to think morphologically, i.e. about materials and structure-property relations on multiple size scales
• An inquisitive spirit, always wondering about the “what ifs…”
• Perseverance - good formulation work requires many failures

What is expected:

• You will be able to be on your feet up to 6 hours per day
• You will be able to lift 40 lbs
• You will be able to develop safe working procedures for various types of mixing equipment.
• You will work safely and look out for the safety of your colleagues
• You will spend at least 10% of your time reading research literature, trade literature, and books to expand your knowledge of the field and adjacent technical fields
• You will share your findings in regular written and verbal communication with colleagues

What we offer:

• Fun, flexible culture and team
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Health Insurance
• No cost telehealth service
• Paid vacation
• Paid holidays
• Great growth opportunities

Natural Fiber Welding is an EOE.