Thomas Brooke specializes in recruiting top-performing R&D Chemist professionals who bring expertise, innovation, and impact to your team in the paints, coatings, polymers, and specialty materials industries.
An R&D Chemist is at the core of technological advancement innovation in the paints, coatings, polymers, and specialty materials sectors. They combine scientific knowledge – typically an advanced technical degree – with creative formulation skills to develop new products, and sometimes improve existing ones. Whether working on a next-generation low-VOC coating, a high-performance polymer blend, or a sustainable additive system, R&D Chemists meet customer needs with novel technical solutions. They typically bring a strong skillset in both structure-property relationships and understanding of the specific raw materials involved, allowing them to engineer formulations to meet specific performance or applications requirements going beyond the level of incremental improvement.
They conduct laboratory experiments, analyze material properties, and collaborate across departments—often translating commercial requirements into viable formulations. A strong R&D Chemist understands not only the chemistry of binders, pigments, and additives for example; but also how those materials behave in real-world applications. Their role may also include scaling up lab-developed formulas to pilot and production levels, working closely with manufacturing and quality control teams.
There is also a wide range of emphasis between the R and the D parts of the job. Some larger companies keep their R&D chemists strictly in the lab and hand-off the scale up and commercialization phase (big R, little D). Many others take more of a “little R, big D” approach where the emphasis is on innovation witihn existing platforms rather than completely new ideas. It is important to ensure alignment with the individual’s background before hiring to make sure the emphasis is as expected.
Depending on a company’s IP philosophy, the R&D Chemist may seek patents for novel ideas, or keep them private within the company.
R&D Chemists also spend regular time maintaining their technical edge – this includes continuing education, attending and/or speaking at technical conferences, reviewing the scientific literature and journals, visiting supplier trade shows, etc. Some companies allocate up to 10% of the individual’s time on such activities to ensure they remain technically at the forefront of their field. This is often accompanied by a Scientist designation rather than just a Chemist title – but companies vary greatly.
Regulatory compliance, cost-efficiency, performance benchmarking, and customer testing protocols may also fall under their purview. A successful R&D Chemist is part problem-solver, part innovator, and part communicator. They thrive in the lab and can handle cross-functional meetings, ensuring product performance aligns with market demand and company goals.
Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, or related scientific field.
Industry Background: Experience in paints, coatings, polymers, adhesives, sealants, or other specialty chemical formulations.
Technical Skills: Strong background in formulation chemistry, material testing, analytical techniques (e.g., FTIR, DSC, TGA, rheology), and scale-up processes.
Experience Range: 3–20+ years depending on seniority of the position.
Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with REACH, TSCA, GHS labeling, and environmental standards.
Soft Skills: Creative thinker, problem-solver, collaborative mindset, and strong written/verbal communication.
R&D Chemist salaries vary depending on experience, education level, and the technical complexity of the formulations involved. Typical base salaries range from $85,000 to $150,000+, with senior chemists or technical leaders often exceeding that range, especially in high-growth or innovation-driven companies. Compensation packages may also include bonuses tied to product development milestones or intellectual property contributions.
In a competitive and innovation-driven market, having the right R&D Chemist can be the difference between staying ahead or falling behind. Companies in the coatings, polymers, and specialty materials sectors rely on cutting-edge formulations to meet ever-increasing performance demands, sustainability goals, and regulatory standards. An experienced R&D Chemist can shorten development timelines, reduce raw material costs, and introduce differentiating features that resonate with customers. They can develop breakthrough new products that position the company as a leader in its chosen space.
At Thomas Brooke, we specialize in executive search & recruiting in the paints, coatings, polymers, and specialty materials industries. Our process ensures that your company hires a strategic, forward-thinking individual who understands your industry’s unique challenges and opportunities.
To learn more about our specialized recruiting expertise, visit Our Expertise.
"Thomas Brooke has helped us add scientific, technical, business engineering, and customer account management roles to our team. Their skills and reach are both broad and deep."
