R&D Scientist - Structural Adhesives

At DuPont, our purpose is to empower the world with essential innovations to thrive. We work on things that matter. Whether it’s providing clean water to more than a billion people on the planet, producing materials that are essential in everyday technology devices from smartphones to electric vehicles, or protecting workers around the world. Discover the many reasons the world’s most talented people are choosing to work at DuPont. Why Join Us | DuPont Careers

Join our Talent Community to stay connected with us!

DuPont is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.

DuPont offers a comprehensive pay and benefits package. To learn more visit the Compensation and Benefits page.

Job Summary

The Adhesives & Fluids business within DuPont Advanced Mobility serves the automotive market through innovative materials solutions. This role is responsible for developing new adhesive technologies that support strategic growth across the Asia Pacific region. The successful candidate will lead new product development and localization initiatives, collaborate with cross-functional teams and customers, and help translate emerging market needs into high-performing commercial solutions.

How You’ll Make an Impact

- Lead the development of new adhesive products for automotive applications across the Asia Pacific region, translating customer needs into technically robust and commercially viable solutions.

- Drive product development programs from concept through scale-up, qualification, and commercialization while balancing performance, quality, manufacturability, and business objectives.

- Lead qualification and localization projects in China, partnering with customers and regional and global stakeholders to ensure successful product adoption.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute product scale-up trials, performance testing, and customer validation activities.

- Partner with Product Stewardship and Regulatory teams to ensure products comply with applicable regulatory, compliance, and stewardship requirements.

- Serve as a technical expert for internal and external customers by providing product recommendations, application support, and on-site troubleshooting or trial assistance.

- Provide technical leadership to laboratory technologists through experimental design, test planning, data interpretation, and maintenance of high-quality laboratory records.

- Document, summarize, and communicate project progress, technical findings, and performance metrics while safeguarding proprietary information.

- Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and evolving customer requirements to influence technology roadmaps and future product development strategies.

- Build external technical networks through participation in industry forums, professional organizations, and scientific communities to identify and introduce new technologies.

- Promote compliance with laboratory safety requirements, quality systems, training standards, and equipment guidelines.

- Demonstrate strong project leadership, accountability, and customer focus across all assigned activities.

What Helps You Succeed in This Role

Required

- PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related discipline.

- Strong technical expertise in adhesive formulation, including formulation science, rheology, and the dispersion of solids in liquids.

- Experience developing adhesive products for industrial applications, preferably within the automotive industry.

- Knowledge of quality systems, regulatory requirements, and product compliance processes.

- Experience using Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma.

- Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities.

- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to develop, qualify, and commercialize new products.

- Strong communication skills in both Chinese and English.

- Ability to work successfully in a fast-paced, customer-focused, global environment and travel as business needs require.

Preferred

- Experience leading product localization programs in China.

- Familiarity with project management tools and project performance reporting.

- Experience providing technical support directly to customers, including application development and qualification activities.

- Strong ability to influence stakeholders, communicate technical insights, and contribute to long-term technology roadmaps.

- Demonstrated learning agility, adaptability, and ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.