PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CHEMIST

PPG Industries
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
As a Product Development Chemist in our Protective and Marine Coatings division, you will play a crucial role in advancing our Flooring, atmospheric protection, polyurea and polyurethane product lines. We are looking for an experienced chemist to join our team and not only develop new products, but develop expertise in existing technologies and products, offer manufacturing and QC support, lead projects and contribute innovative solutions to challenging technical problems.
In this role, you will be at the forefront of developing and commercializing cutting-edge coatings that meet rigorous industry standards. Your expertise will be vital in contributing to new product development from ideation to full commercialization as well as assisting in managing the localization of various protective coatings from other regions globally. Plant and business support, handling requests from the commercial team in a timely manner, will all be critical parts of the role.
This position offers a unique opportunity to work on product formulation while interacting with various other business functions such as manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, sales, and other global development labs. As an experienced chemist, you will collaborate with and help mentor other technicians/chemists, helping to guide the team towards achieving our goals. You will also be involved in designing and conducting experiments, maintaining safety standards, reviewing intellectual property, and taking part in stage-gate activities. There will also be the opportunity to periodically travel and engage with manufacturing or customer sites for product scale-ups, customer meetings, and product deployments.
Join us in this exciting role and make a significant impact on the future of protective and marine coatings.
You will work onsite at our Harmar, PA facility and report directly to the Manager, S&T Product development.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. degree in a scientific / engineering subject area OR a Master’s degree in a scientific / engineering subject area with 3+ years of experience OR a Bachelor’s degree in a scientific / engineering subject area with 6+ years of experience is required.
• Prior formulation experience in coatings or sealants is preferred
  

  LI-Onsite

ABOUT US:

Here at PPG we make it happen, and we seek candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our values, with the commitment and drive to strive today to do better than yesterday – everyday.

ABOUT US:

Here at PPG we make it happen, and we seek candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our values, with the commitment and drive to strive today to do better than yesterday – everyday.

• Contribute to the full product lifecycle—from ideation to commercialization—including new product development and technology transfers from regional labs.
• Conduct performance testing in accordance with ASTM and ISO standards, follow and develop experimental procedures, and generate reliable data to support product innovation.
• Work closely with internal teams (e.g., R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, sales) and external partners (e.g., customers, third-party labs) to align technical efforts with business goals.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, EH&S standards, and regulatory requirements; support formula implementation and management in SAP systems.
• Utilize knowledge of coating chemistries and statistical tools (e.g., JMP, Six Sigma) to improve formulation processes and product performance.
• Present findings through clear reports and presentations, and engage with stakeholders to support product launches, field support, and customer interactions, including occasional travel.
• Plan, coordinate, and lead independent and collaborative technical projects, delivering innovative solutions to complex formulation and performance challenges.