Principal Scientist

As the Principal Scientist at a profitable start-up company, you’ll shape innovation in chemical formulations for the water treatment industry, working hands‑on in the lab while driving the technical vision for R&D. You’ll collaborate closely with key teams to ensure products meet industry standards and customer expectations.

You’ll Want to Explore this Opportunity Because:

• Autonomy & Access: You’ll have significant independence, reporting directly to a dynamic CEO while working in a satellite lab with a small, focused product development team.
• Scientific Leadership: You’ll serve as the organization’s go‑to authority in water treatment chemistry, shaping products end‑to‑end. The company disrupted its market and reached profitability within its first two years, now focused on product improvement and supply chain stability.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  You’ll work closely with Operations, Marketing, and the chemistry team to translate scientific ideas into successful commercial products.

Location: Lab space in Wilmington, DE, with corporate headquarters in New York City.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Lead the development of chemical formulations and new product forms (granules, liquids, tablets, advanced delivery systems), with significant hands‑on time in the lab.

• Improve existing products to enhance performance and address supply chain constraints.
• Evaluate and characterize third‑party products to support internal development and registration efforts (reverse engineering).
• Operate and troubleshoot analytical instrumentation to support formulation decisions.
• Complete pilot studies and field trials to confirm real‑world performance and scalability.
• Translate market insights and company priorities into actionable product improvements and new product concepts.
• Oversee efficacy, user experience, safety, shelf life, and regulatory testing to support commercialization decisions.
• Serve as the scientific expert in water treatment chemistry, supporting customer service and technical education.
• Work closely with Operations and Marketing to move products from development through commercialization.

What You’ll Bring to the Job:

Your ability to work hands‑on in a product development and analytical chemistry lab, combined with technical project leadership experience.

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, preferably Inorganic Chemistry.
• 5+ years of progressive industry experience in product or process development, within the specialty chemical or water treatment industry, beyond academic research.
• Demonstrated success forming products and supporting commercialization.
• Strong foundation in water treatment chemistry, with deep knowledge of inorganic and/or organic chemistry relevant to treatment technologies. Foundational expertise may come from earlier academic research.
• Experience with a range of analytical instrumentation.
• Strong expertise in experimental design and statistical data analysis.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as EPA, NSF, and FIFRA, and associated safety testing protocols.
• Solids handling experience is a strong plus.
• Must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer without sponsorship now or in the future.

Clarifying Footnote: You’ll serve as a senior‑level individual contributor, collaborating closely with a small scientific team. This is not a director or large group management role.

Our client is an Equal Opportunity Employer with fantastic benefits as described below:

• 20 days PTO
• Medical Insurance: 3 plan levels ($300–$6,350 deductibles; 80–100% coverage)
• Dental Insurance: PPO plan with $1,500 annual max; 100% preventive, 90% basic, 60% major; orthodontia up to $1,500
• Vision Insurance: $10 copays; $150 frame or contact allowance every 12 months
• Life Insurance: 2× salary up to $500,000, company‑paid
• Voluntary Life & AD&D:
  Employee up to $300K; spouse/child up to 50% of employee coverage
• Long‑Term Disability: 60% of monthly earnings, up to $12,000, company‑paid
• Continuing Education & Tuition Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program and Wellness Benefits