Pave Talent
R&D Chemist - UV Flexo Ink Formulation (Relocation Available)
Pave Talent, West Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60185
Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client
- an established global ink manufacturer with North American headquarters in the Chicago area, known for their collaborative team culture, technical excellence, and 12+ year average employee tenure. This Great Place to Work-Certified® industry leader operates state-of-the-art R&D facilities supporting a rapidly expanding flexible packaging division.
Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.
As the
R&D Chemist - UV Flexo Specialist , you'll serve as the technical expert for a 4-person formulation team, directly solving customer challenges that impact millions of consumer products daily. This role offers immediate technical leadership opportunities with clear advancement potential as the current manager approaches retirement within 3-5 years.
Your Direct Impact: Formulate UV Flexo and Screen inks from raw materials, developing complete systems from scratch rather than modifying bases Solve critical customer printing issues within 2-week turnaround cycles, providing instant gratification as your solutions run on press Lead low-migration shrink sleeve projects for food packaging using Nestle-compliant materials and advanced photopolymerization chemistry Mentor 4 talented junior chemists while interfacing directly with customers to understand technical requirements Optimize formulations to achieve 15-20% cost reductions while maintaining superior print quality and adhesion Travel to customer sites (up to 20% domestic) for press trials and technical troubleshooting Develop next-generation UV/EB liquid technologies for emerging flexible packaging applications
Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering 8+ years formulating UV-curable inks, coatings, or adhesives with demonstrable from-scratch formulation experience Deep understanding of UV/EB chemistry, photopolymerization, and substrate interactions Proven ability to troubleshoot complex printing issues under tight deadlines Strong technical writing and customer communication skills
Preferred Qualifications: Direct UV Flexo ink formulation experience at companies like Sun Chemical, Flint, or Siegwerk Knowledge of food packaging regulatory requirements SAP or similar ERP system experience Experience mentoring junior technical staff
What Sets This Apart:
Competitive base salary $90,000-$100,000 with 5%+ annual merit increases, comprehensive benefits from Day 1 including medical/dental/vision and 401(k) match. Join a close-knit R&D team where chess matches and D&D campaigns are as common as breakthrough innovations. You'll see your solutions running on everything from Scott's fertilizer bags to craft beer shrink sleeves within weeks of development. With the technical manager approaching retirement, this role offers a clear path to R&D leadership for the right candidate.
Ready to bring your UV expertise to a team that values both technical excellence and workplace culture?
Apply via LinkedIn and Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates immediately. Confidential search - your application is fully private. Apply now!
- an established global ink manufacturer with North American headquarters in the Chicago area, known for their collaborative team culture, technical excellence, and 12+ year average employee tenure. This Great Place to Work-Certified® industry leader operates state-of-the-art R&D facilities supporting a rapidly expanding flexible packaging division.
Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.
As the
R&D Chemist - UV Flexo Specialist , you'll serve as the technical expert for a 4-person formulation team, directly solving customer challenges that impact millions of consumer products daily. This role offers immediate technical leadership opportunities with clear advancement potential as the current manager approaches retirement within 3-5 years.
Your Direct Impact: Formulate UV Flexo and Screen inks from raw materials, developing complete systems from scratch rather than modifying bases Solve critical customer printing issues within 2-week turnaround cycles, providing instant gratification as your solutions run on press Lead low-migration shrink sleeve projects for food packaging using Nestle-compliant materials and advanced photopolymerization chemistry Mentor 4 talented junior chemists while interfacing directly with customers to understand technical requirements Optimize formulations to achieve 15-20% cost reductions while maintaining superior print quality and adhesion Travel to customer sites (up to 20% domestic) for press trials and technical troubleshooting Develop next-generation UV/EB liquid technologies for emerging flexible packaging applications
Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering 8+ years formulating UV-curable inks, coatings, or adhesives with demonstrable from-scratch formulation experience Deep understanding of UV/EB chemistry, photopolymerization, and substrate interactions Proven ability to troubleshoot complex printing issues under tight deadlines Strong technical writing and customer communication skills
Preferred Qualifications: Direct UV Flexo ink formulation experience at companies like Sun Chemical, Flint, or Siegwerk Knowledge of food packaging regulatory requirements SAP or similar ERP system experience Experience mentoring junior technical staff
What Sets This Apart:
Competitive base salary $90,000-$100,000 with 5%+ annual merit increases, comprehensive benefits from Day 1 including medical/dental/vision and 401(k) match. Join a close-knit R&D team where chess matches and D&D campaigns are as common as breakthrough innovations. You'll see your solutions running on everything from Scott's fertilizer bags to craft beer shrink sleeves within weeks of development. With the technical manager approaching retirement, this role offers a clear path to R&D leadership for the right candidate.
Ready to bring your UV expertise to a team that values both technical excellence and workplace culture?
Apply via LinkedIn and Pave Talent will contact qualified candidates immediately. Confidential search - your application is fully private. Apply now!