Staff Research Scientist

At Niagara, we're looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

Consider applying here, if you want to:

• Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.
• Develop lasting relationships with great people.
• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.

Essential Functions

• Formulates strategy for R&D growth. Designs and implements new R&D projects in materials, design, or process.
• Leads scientific team and allocates resources effectively to ensure project completion in a timely fashion.
• Initiates, develops, and maintains relationships with suppliers and other external collaborators.
• Design and implement Research and Development (R&D) projects including formulation and testing of new resin blends, validation of new resin suppliers, resin-specific process optimization, development of new laboratory testing procedures, and other intellectual property activities.
• Partner with plant operations, process engineering, and quality teams to plan, execute, and analyze new resin and equipment validation trials at various Niagara manufacturing locations.
• Provide technical feedback and troubleshooting in real time to adapt trial parameters and ensure alignment with product performance goals and sustainability targets.
• Apply advanced modeling techniques to understand and predict the behavior of chemical and mechanical systems used in packaging and manufacturing processes.
• Analyze real-world data to validate model predictions, identify performance trends, and troubleshoot failures.
• Support material selection and process optimization by correlating mechanical stress, thermal behavior, and chemical interactions in both experimental and simulated environments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, manufacturing, and quality) to integrate modeling insights and communicate research results into scalable and cost-effective solutions
• Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 Years - Experience in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field, testing, modeling and processing field
  • 6 Years - Experience in Position, Research laboratory assistant, post -doctoral scholar
  • 4 Years - Experience working with graduate researchers, interns or lab assistants

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

• Preferred Qualifications:
  • 10+ Years- Experience in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field, testing, modeling and processing field
  • 10+ Years - Experience in Position, Research laboratory assistant, post -doctoral scholar
  • 6 Years - Experience working with graduate researchers, interns or lab assistants

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Competencies

Proficiency in, but not limited to:

• Advanced data analysis and simulation capabilities
• Publication quality communication skills (documents and presentations)
• Proven experience with analytical laboratory equipment such as Material Strength Testers, Rheometers, DSC, IV testers, FTIR, XRD, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, and thermodynamic simulations etc.
• Skills with lab data management or automation software such as LabVIEW, Matlab, Python.
• Microsoft Office Products.
• Problem Solving - identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Detail oriented and accurate - minimizes mistakes, follows every step in a process and follows through with all tasks
• Oral Communication - speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; demonstrates presentation skills.
• Written Communication - writes clearly and informatively; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Beneficial, but not required:

• Injection molding or blow molding experience.

Lifting Requirements:

• 40 lbs. For example, must be physically capable to change injection molds and resin in lab or production equipment.

Physical Demands:

• Travel up to 15%. Some work in hot, cold, or confined production environments.
• Must be able to operate tools used when changing molds and operating R&D equipment.

This position embodies the values of Niagara's LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:

• Lead Like an Owner
  • Makes safety the number one priority
  • Keeps alert for safety issues and escalates immediately
  • Effectively prioritizes tasks based on department goals
  • Shows respect to others and confronts interpersonal issues directly
  • Prioritizes resolution of customer issues effectively
  • Responds promptly and honors commitments to internal and external customers
• InnovACT
  • Makes recommendations to continuously improve policies, methods, procedures, and/or products
  • Demonstrates adaptability by reacting appropriately to unexpected changes in situations or circumstances
  • Increases performance through greater efficiency
• Find a Way
  • Seeks to develop technical knowledge through learning from other experts
  • Understands interdepartmental impact of individual decisions and actions
  • Seeks solutions rather than placing blame
• Empowered to be Great
  • Consistently looks for ways to improve one's self through growth and development opportunities
  • Communicates clearly and promptly up, down, and across
  • Communicates effectively to manage expectations

Education

• Preferred:
  • Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience. Materials Science and Engineering exposure. Polymer processing or science and Packaging training.

Foreign Language

• Required: None Required
• Preferred: Minimum Professional Proficiency, Spanish

Typical Compensation Range

Benefits

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

* *Los Angeles County applicants only** Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.

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Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit resume to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit resume into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.