Now hiring! R&D Scientist

Wyandotte, MI (On Site)

We are looking for a R&D Scientist to join our Performance Materials team in Wyandotte.

Come create chemistry with us!

The Performance Materials division is at the forefront of the much-needed sustainability transformation in plastics. Our experts co-create products with customers to bring innovations to major industry sectors such as transportation, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction.These solutions contribute to a sustainable future by pushing the boundaries in thermal resistance, robustness and lightweight applications.

We are seeking a proactive collaborative R&D project manager to join our Performance Materials team and help bring ideas from strong inception to successful execution. In this role, you will leverage your polymer chemistry or materials science background to work closely with business and commercial colleagues to develop robust business cases, align priorities, and drive projects through the lab with clarity, discipline, and energy. You will play a key role in shaping project direction from the outset, ensuring objectives are well defined, timelines are realistic, and stakeholder expectations are aligned. The successful candidate will communicate clearly and consistently, anticipate risks and resource needs early, and keep projects focused and on track.

As a R&D Scientist, you create chemistry by...

• Embodying our winning ways culture:
• Own it: Take full ownership of projects from concept through execution, ensuring clear accountability, strong planning, and disciplined follow-through.
• Drive it: Partner with business and commercial colleagues to develop compelling business cases, align stakeholders, and move projects forward with momentum.
• Excel in it: Deliver high-quality execution in the lab, communicate clearly and consistently, and proactively identify risks and timing challenges before they become issues.
• Bringing structure and momentum to projects from the earliest concept phase through
• execution
• Listening to customers, understanding their needs, and translating those needs into robust product solutions
• Applying chemistry know-how and extrusion and injection molding experience to support product development
• Providing clear, regular project updates to management and cross-functional colleagues
• Envisioning technical solutions holistically across formulation, manufacturing, processing, and application functionality
• Leveraging site resources and R&D community knowledge to achieve technical objectives and project goals
• Building strong business cases with business and commercial colleagues
• Translating objectives into realistic timelines and clear deliverables
• Anticipating risks, dependencies, and resource needs early
• Maintaining focus and discipline to minimize scope creep and keep projects on track
• Reinforcing a culture of behavior-based safety and champion a Zero Incident mindset while maintaining a safe working environment.

If you have...

• A PhD in chemistry, polymer or materials science and professional background, or equivalent blend of knowledge and experience
• Proven project management experience from early-stage concept through execution
• Strong ability to articulate unique value proposition of a proposed project to support a business case calculation
• Excellent timeline planning, prioritization, and execution discipline and sense of accountability
• Clear, consistent communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to foresee risks, dependencies, and the need for additional time or resources early
• Discipline to manage scope effectively and minimize scope creep.
• Experience coordinating technical work in a lab or R&D environment is compulsory

Create your own chemistry with you@BASF

At BASF, you will have the chance to do meaningful work towards building a more sustainable future. In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, BASF provides you with access to a wide range of elements to help you be your best. It’s what we call you@BASF. We are committed to providing benefits, programs, and opportunities that support our employees’ overall well-being, personal growth, and a safe, collaborative, and inclusive work environment.

Just some of the many benefits we offer include:

• Flexible work arrangements whenever possible
• Highly competitive retirement savings plan with company match and investment options
• Well-being programs that include comprehensive mental health support for you and your household family members
• Family forming benefits (fertility, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, maternity/parental leave, and more)
• Back-up child and elder care with discount programs for families of all ages and stages
• Mentoring and career development opportunities that allow you to share, learn, and thrive
• Matching gifts program that allows you to deepen the impact of your contributions to qualified charities.
• Employee crisis support for when the unexpected happens
• Access to our BASF wine cellar, employee discounts, and much more!

About us

As one of the largest chemical companies in North America we have been finding solutions for your everyday needs and addressing the most complex economic, environmental, and sustainability challenges for more than 150 years!

At BASF we empower our employees with the tools, guidance and opportunities they need to advance and succeed in work and life. Giving you the support you need to be your best and fulfill your personal ambitions is what helps us create chemistry. After all, our success is linked to yours. Whatever path you envision, BASF is a great place to build a rewarding, successful career.

Belong to Something Bigger. #belongatBASF

Privacy statement

BASF takes security & data privacy very seriously. We will never request financial information of any kind via email, private text message or direct message on any social medial platform or job board. Furthermore, we will never send a candidate a check for equipment or request any type of payment during the job application process. If you have experienced any of the above, please contact Careers.NorthAmerica@basf.com to report fraud.

Equal employment opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, citizenship, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.