Senior Scientist/Engineer, R&D Materials

Job Summary

The Applied Research Team within West is responsible for driving the future of the company by developing innovative products designed to improve patient lives. We are seeking a highly collaborative candidate who is vastly knowledgeable in product and process development. This candidate will research, ideate, pitch, design, prototype and test new concepts and technology in collaboration with a team of scientists and engineers. This role will directly interface internally with our scientific teams working on advanced therapies, nanomaterials, containment technologies, biosensors and drug delivery technologies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and execute cross-functional projects with moderate resource requirements, elevated risk, and/or high complexity, while maintaining ownership of project scope, budget, schedule, and milestone delivery.
• Conduct research to identify emerging trends, technologies, and opportunities within the medical device industry that support the development of new product concepts, in collaboration with stakeholders across the enterprise.
• Apply knowledge of the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, chemistry, material science, and agile development principles to generate innovative technology solutions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for assigned equipment; design and execute tests, analyze results, develop new test methods, write SOPs, and train team members.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and present new product ideas effectively to diverse stakeholders, including management, to build alignment, influence decisions, and drive consensus.
• Solve complex technical problems by applying new perspectives to existing solutions, particularly when integrating untested or novel approaches.
• Lead the design, assembly, and prototyping of product concepts by leveraging internal and external capabilities to evaluate function, performance, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborate across business functions as needed to achieve individual and team objectives.

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline, with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.

Work Experience

• Deep understanding of material structure-property relationships and the ability to apply this knowledge to material selection, design, characterization, and performance optimization.
• Experience working with plastic films, including film manufacturing, conversion, characterization, modification, performance evaluation, and/or application development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, plan, communicate, and execute assigned projects effectively.
• Ability to work independently, requiring guidance only in highly complex situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expertise in polymer processing technologies, including injection molding, film extrusion and converting, and compression molding.
• Expertise in surface functionalization, organic synthesis, and the development of adhesives and coatings.
• Strong hands-on experience with polymer characterization techniques, including FTIR, AFM, DSC, TGA, DMA, SEM, rheometry, and mechanical testing.
• Familiarity with a broad range of medical devices, including drug delivery systems.
• Excellent scientific communication skills, with a strong record of peer-reviewed publications in polymer science, advanced materials, or related fields.

License and Certifications

A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification is a plus, bringing proven problem-solving skills and experience with process optimization to our team.

Travel Requirements

20%: Up to 52 business days per year.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel to West facilities, technical conferences and trade fairs and equipment vendors as needed.
• Must be able to work under time constraints and in teams in a variety of situations.
• Demonstrated adaptability in a changing work environment, including the ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and overall quality of work.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals at various organizational levels, both internally and externally, including customers.
• Must maintain awareness of and comply with all relevant SOPs and company policies applicable to the position.