Job Title

**Job Description:** **About Us:** ITW Car Care is a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), specializing in automotive aftermarket products. The division offers a diverse portfolio of brands such as Rain-X wiper blades, visibility enhancing products, and water repellent treatments, including our 2-in-1 Glass Cleaner. Black Magic to support all your wheel and tire needs including Tire Wet. **Summary:** **The ideal candidate will bring a blend of technical and formulation expertise in aftermarket car care product development and strategy. Under the technical collaboration and/or direction of an R&D Leadership, the candidate will develop multiple projects in a fast-paced innovative environment. They are responsible for research,** **development,** **technical** **evaluation** **and** **testing** **of** **the** **formulations.** **This** **position** **requires** **a** **creative individual with a passion for technical learning and curiosity. The Senior Lead Chemist will spend approximately 50% of** **their** **daily activity working at the lab bench** **to create new** **products and solve complex technical problems to support the ITW Global Brand's business strategies.** **Duties** **and** **Responsibilities:** **Translates** **customer** **needs/consumer** **paint** **points** **into** **effective** **product** **designs** **and** **customer-driven innovation strategies by partnering with Marketing & Technical Service/Application** **Engineering.** **Identifies, plans, recommends and completes major technical programs leading to innovative applications** **or** **extensions** **of** **existing** **and** **new** **technologies** **that** **have** **significant** **impact** **on** **the** **organization.** **Collaborate** **with** **various** **raw** **material** **suppliers/cross** **functional** **teams** **to** **research,** **develop** **and create differentiated products and solutions using surfactants, silicone fluid and its derivatives, polymers, and solvents.** **Lead** **formula** **development** **&** **manage** **technical** **aspects** **of** **assigned** **projects** **within** **ITW's** **stage-gate process in conjunction with a project manager.** **Clearly** **identify** **project** **goals,** **product** **design** **requirements,** **technical** **approach,** **test** **strategy,** **and conduct laboratory evaluations, comparison testing and issue final comprehensive reports.** **Conduct** **patent** **searches** **to** **monitor** **competitive** **innovations** **and** **generate** **intellectual** **property** **in own area of development in the form of patents, formulation know-how, and trade secrets.** **Support the scale-up of formulations from lab scale to mid- and full-size manufacturing batches. Coordinate and work with internal departments on the technology transfer for scale-up, and commercialization,** **and** **determine** **the** **appropriate** **design** **and** **product** **specifications** **to** **maximize ease of manufacturing and customer applications. Knowledge of ISO practice/requirements for manufacturing scaleups will be added advantage.** **Provide** **short-** **and** **long-term** **support** **for** **current** **products** **to** **maintain** **ITW's** **reputation** **for** **quality and performance by qualifying alternative sources of raw materials and validating performance.** **Manage** **multiple** **projects/tasks** **independently** **and** **as** **part** **of** **a** **team** **and** **fully** **utilize** **analytical laboratory equipment.** **Understand,** **follow** **and** **stay** **abreast** **of** **important** **safety,** **health,** **environmental,** **quality** **and regulatory requirements affecting this industry.** **Minimal** **business** **travel** **required** **(<** **10%)** **Other** **duties** **as** **assigned.** **Minimum** **Qualifications:** **Master's** **degree,** **or** **higher,** **in** **Chemistry** **or** **Chemical** **Engineering.** **Ph.D.** **preferred.** **Minimum** **6-8** **years** **product** **formulation** **experience,** **preferably** **with** **consumer-packaged** **goods.** **Additional** **qualifications** **to** **help** **you** **succeed** **in** **the** **role:** **Experience** **in** **surfactant/silicone/solvent/inorganic** **and** **polymer** **chemistry.** **Knowledge** **of** **surface wetting / non-wetting phenomena, knowledge of reactive chemistry a plus.** **Experience** **in** **physical/chemical** **characterization** **of** **surfaces.** **Ability** **to** **manage** **multiple** **tasks** **in** **a** **fast-paced** **innovative** **environment.** **Ability** **to** **work** **independently** **and** **as** **a** **contributing** **team** **member.** **Excellent** **problem-solving** **skills** **and** **logical** **approach** **to** **solving** **scientific** **problems.** **Detail** **oriented,** **flexible,** **innovative** **and** **self-** **motivated.** **Must** **demonstrate** **ability** **to** **perform** **tasks** **correctly** **and** **consistently.** **Willing** **to** **collaborate** **and** **work** **in** **cross-functional** **teams** **to** **advance** **ideas** **and** **projects.** **Strong** **communication,** **interpersonal** **and** **organizational** **skills** **are** **essential** **with** **the** **ability** **to** **clearly present ideas to a cross-functional team and manufacturing partners.** _ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues' unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential._ _As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship._ _All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws._