Automotive Coatings Formulation Chemist

Shape the Future of Automotive Finishes

Picture your morning: you review yesterday’s lab notes, calibrate a disperser, and build a prototype that could launch on a production line next month. By afternoon, you’re translating lab results into a scale-up plan, partnering with operations, and drafting a concise update for leadership. Along the way, you connect with suppliers about the latest raw materials and coach a new teammate on application techniques. That’s a day on NPAA’s Technical Team.

Why NPAA

• Earned Bonus Structure – attendance bonuses, annual merit increases, and an annual incentive bonus plan.
• Time Off & Holidays – 11 paid holidays each year, plus paid time off to support work-life balance.
• Health & Retirement – comprehensive health and welfare plans, along with a 401(k) program featuring an exceptional company match.
• Career Growth & Recognition – tuition reimbursement, employee recognition programs, and opportunities to grow within the organization.
• Culture & Community – company events throughout the year celebrating and appreciating our employees’ hard work and dedication.

The Role

As an experienced chemist on our Technical Team, you’ll apply coatings chemistry and end-use knowledge to solve complex challenges for our automotive customers. You’ll help keep NPAA at the forefront of the market by advancing formulations, strengthening customer/supplier relationships, supporting cross-functional collaboration, and contributing to training for new hires. You will also participate in new business initiatives and internal process improvements.

What You’ll Do

Dispersion

• Use lab-scale dispersing equipment to prepare prototype samples in line with established procedures.
• Collaborate with internal technical and operations partners to align with coating and manufacturing requirements.
• Engage with raw material and equipment suppliers to track industry trends and new technologies.
• Support manufacturing scale-up trials on-site and off-site.
• Compile internal reports and management-ready drafts on schedule.
• Bring 3–10 years of dispersion technology experience.

Development

• Prepare and validate lab prototypes following defined procedures.
• Apply coatings manually and build capability with automated application techniques.

Launch & Line Support

• Partner with commercial and production support teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues during launch and in-line production.

Compensation

$57,428.80 to $87,464.00. Compensation for this role is negotiable based on experience and skill set.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a science-related field.
• Professional experience: Chemist typically 2+ years of applicable experience.
• Ability to safely handle paints and chemicals, including isocyanates, using all required PPE.
• Capability to lift 50 lbs.
• Basic computer skills (Office/Word/Excel).

Our Commitment

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.