Principal TPO Scientist at Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

The Thermoplastics Research and Innovation team consists of scientists that are responsible for developing breakthrough technologies in support of CCM's current and future needs in the thermoplastics olefin (TPO) roofing business. The research scientist will work closely with value chain partners, commercial leadership, and technical leadership to support current business and influence technology development to enable the next generation of sustainable TPO roofing membranes.


This position provides an excellent opportunity for an individual to contribute innovative technology and product solutions to deliver growth for the TPO roofing product line and market. The successful candidate in this position will become an expert in thermoplastics compounding, processing and development of commercial roofing products. The Scientist will lead major innovation and new product development projects within the Research and Innovation group. This position operates under the general guidance of the Senior Manager-Thermoplastics Membranes.


* Lead teams in developing new product platforms, leveraging both internal innovation and external partnerships to advance TPO product offerings.
* Conduct advanced research on TPO materials, pioneering new technologies for both new and existing products within the TPO business group.
* Drive multiple Innovation and New Product Development projects, with a focus on significantly growing the TPO roofing business.
* Translate customer needs and performance gaps into precise technical specifications; define essential tests that link product properties to performance in real-world applications.
* Synthesize and present technical findings to senior management and customers, ensuring clarity and alignment with strategic goals.
* Strategically manage the intellectual property (IP) portfolio, identifying and securing innovations that enhance competitive positioning.
* Oversee technical project schedules from ideation through scale-up to product launch, coordinating cross-functional inputs.
* Utilize a comprehensive range of material characterization techniques (e.g., TGA, DSC, DMA, HPLC, GC-MS) to build advanced TPO technologies that reduce costs, improve performance, and deliver sustained advantages.
* Engage with sales, marketing, manufacturing, and other key teams to prioritize and scope projects that align with corporate strategy.
* Act as a safety leader, promoting best practices in all research and development initiatives.


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* Bachelor's degree with 12+ years, master's with 10+ years, or Ph.D. with 6+ years of experience in Polyolefins formulation and processing. Degrees in Polymer Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science are desired.
* Extensive experience leveraging literature, internal expertise, and experimental data to identify and develop next-generation TPO technologies.
* Proven ability to drive innovation through advanced analytical and screening methods and experimental design (DOE).
* Expert knowledge in polyolefins behavior, with demonstrated ability in complex data analysis and establishing structure-property relationships.
* Skilled in various chemical and polymer analysis techniques, including DSC, TGA, DMA, TMA, HPLC, GPC, GC-MS, FTIR, and NMR.
* Strong project management experience, able to independently lead projects and mentor junior team members.
* Highly motivated to push technological boundaries, with excellent communication and collaborative skills.


Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled