R&D Professional, Milliken Research Operations

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram and  LinkedIn.

POSITION TITLE

R&D Professional, Milliken Research Operations

POSITION OVERVIEW

Internal analytical leader within Research Operations Analytical group, partnering across business units and chemistry platforms to solve material and chemistry problems and define appropriate analytical strategies. Practical analytical scientist with deep hands-on chromatography and mass spectrometry expertise, functional/scientific instrument understanding, independent troubleshooting ability, curiosity to learn complementary techniques, and interest in future technical or organizational leadership. Supports polymers, chemicals, materials, and emerging technologies. Position located at corporate headquarters in Spartanburg, SC; typical hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use chemical and materials science principles, GC/LC/MS/HRAM, and complementary techniques to determine why products perform, fail, or change and recommend actionable solutions.
• Own GC, LC, and MS instruments and HRAM workflows, including readiness, documentation, queue discipline, data quality, method stewardship, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair coordination, and capability development.
• Define critical measurements, develop first-principles analytical strategies when the correct approach is not known, lead technical discussions, and establish testing programs.
• Solve R&D, raw material, quality, regulatory, and high-throughput analytical challenges across diverse platforms.
• Identify unknowns, monitor reactions, quantify knowns, and characterize materials from small molecules to high molecular weight polymers.
• Develop, optimize, validate, transfer, maintain, and troubleshoot sample preparation, chromatography, MS, interpretation, and reporting methods using hypothesis-driven root-cause analysis.
• Manage workstreams from sample intake through analysis, interpretation, reporting, follow-up communication, and technical recommendations.
• Partner with product development, manufacturing, regulatory, research, and business teams; communicate results in reports, tables, charts, presentations, and project discussions.
• Learn, support, and help establish complementary capabilities including separations, wet chemistry, elemental analysis, spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis, and physical testing.
• Comply with all safety requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree plus 4 years’ experience, Master’s degree plus 2 years’ experience, or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry or related technical field.
• Demonstrated hands-on proficiency with chromatographic separations and mass spectrometry, including GC, LC, column selection, mobile phase design, sample preparation, method development/optimization, troubleshooting, repairs, instrument function, and HRAM analyses.
• Proven ability to develop, troubleshoot, validate, document, transfer, maintain, and steward analytical methods.
• Ability to operate effectively when the correct analytical approach is not known and analytical strategy must be developed from first principles.
• Demonstrated ability to assess data quality, recognize technique limitations, and determine when conclusions are sufficiently supported for technical or business decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction, mentor others, communicate across organizational levels, and/or lead when required.
• Hands-on chemical laboratory experience, including safe handling, documentation, equipment operation, and safety compliance.
• Self-motivated ability to learn complementary techniques and establish, transfer, or sustain capabilities as business or staffing needs require.
• Scientific judgment to balance strategy, rigor, speed, and cost.
• Curiosity, initiative, thoughtful questioning, creative problem solving, and effective use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Clear technical, written, and presentation communication.

The successful candidate will have strengths in the following: 

• Familiarity with complementary analytical techniques and adjacent methods that strengthen GC/LC/MS capabilities.
• Leadership potential with long-term interest in people management.
• Ability to apply data analytics or statistics to analytical chemistry problems.
• Ability to manage technical workstreams, mentor others, and support cross-training across analytical capabilities.

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Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact TalentAcquisition@milliken.com.