Senior Engineer, Polymer Derivatization

IFF: Where science and creativity meet
It’s an exciting time to be part of the IFF family. The combination of IFF and DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences unites us to form a global leader in taste, scent, nutrition and biosciences, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy.
This Polymer Derivatization Lead Engineer position will join the Health and Biosciences business division (formerly DuPont). He/she will be one of the key members in Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials™ product development, at the junction between discovery and manufacturing.
About IFF
At IFF (NYSE: IFF), an industry leader in food, beverage, health, biosciences and sensorial experiences, science and creativity meet to create essential solutions for a better world – from global icons to unexpected innovations and experiences. With the beauty of art and the precision of science, we are an international collective of thinkers who partners with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients, and solutions for products the world craves. Together, we will do more good for people and the planet. Learn more at iff.com, Twitter , Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of polymer derivatization processes.
• Conduct hands on small-scale syntheses in the laboratory to generate new derivatized polymers for performance and stability studies.
• Maintain and operate high-pressure reactors, ensuring proper maintenance of equipment.
• Coordinate and enable execution of pilot-scale campaigns to produce representative materials for regulatory and commercialization purposes.
• Evaluate the feasibility of scaling the technology and collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate experimental and pilot-scale data into commercial-scale processes.
• Solve complex engineering problems where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors to get to the root cause(s).
• Provide technical guidance and expertise in identifying and troubleshooting polymer derivatization process problems.
• Actively participate in the execution of scale-up/scale-down methodology for polymer derivatization processes, including design and analysis of experiments.
• Handle hazardous chemicals and perform hazard analyses, ensuring process safety and proper documentation. Actively participate in safety reviews, HAZOP processes, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations and IFF safety standards.
• Work collaboratively with functional group leaders and team members to enable efficient execution of projects’ objectives.
• Work as an individual contributor to conduct experiments and advance projects. Pursue novel technical ideas aligned with delivering business impact.
• Contribute to chemistry and process improvement efforts through different methodologies, such as supporting the implementation of screenings and small-scale assays.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and team members.
• Document experiments, deliver technical presentations, and generate progress, technical, legal, and/or regulatory reports.
• Increase level of professional expertise of self and team through scientific literature and network contacts.
• Identify shortcomings in existing research procedures and systems and propose solutions to address them.

Requirements:

• Ph.D. degree in relevant Engineering or Polymer Science disciplines with at least 4 years industrial experience

OR

• Master’s degree in relevant Engineering or Polymer Science disciplines with at least 8 years industrial experience

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant Engineering or Polymer Science disciplines with at least 12 years industrial experience

• Experience in successfully introducing polymer-based organic reactions to the commercial scale, including contract manufacturing, by working at various scales (benchtop, pilot and commercial scales)
• Demonstrated success in trouble shooting during process development
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, reaction mechanisms, and process optimization.
• Experience with high-pressure reactors and maintenance of such equipment.
• Expertise in organic chemistry, chemical transformation, solvent handling, and process safety.
• Demonstration of exceptional capabilities in educational pursuits and associated work/study programs
• Experience applying design of experiments, statistical analyses, and developing cost estimates
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and mentor junior engineers. Experience in fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self-starter with good organizational skills, attention to detail, and project leadership experience
• Flexible to work on an agile team in a dynamic environment
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Some travel required

• Position located in Wilmington, DE

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with vetting tolling options for derivatization processes
• Knowledge in analytical chemistry and familiarity with analytical tools
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements for polymer products
• Strong skills as demonstrated by publications in peer reviewed journals and/or intellectual property
• Automation & process control experience is a plus

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more