Research Analyst

The Goodwin Group is conducting an executive search for a PHD Analyst on behalf of a leading Atlanta-based developer of high-performance epoxy systems. The position offers a clear pathway towards leadership and business management roles within the C-Suite, ideal for someone with aspirations to impact both the scientific and commercial success of their innovations.

Initially focusing on epoxies for the aviation industry and the U.S. space program, the company now also supports modern space tourism, demonstrating its commitment to advancing material science across various industries. The company offers an extensive portfolio that includes specialized adhesives, coatings, encapsulating and potting compounds, syntactics, tooling resins, and general-purpose epoxy resins and curing agents. The PHD Analyst will join the innovative Research & Development technical team and this role capitalizes on the unique opportunity to apply extensive expertise in polymer science in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.

The PHD Analyst will be responsible for maintaining quality control while assisting in new polymer formulations and performing exhaustive material characterizations. Direct customer interactions to build business relationships and create a collaborative problem-solving environment is critical. The focus is on delivering high quality solutions that meet the sophisticated material needs of a diverse client base primarily in the Aerospace industry, with an emphasis on improving performance and environmental sustainability. This role requires a robust technical acumen, adept problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to collaborate effectively across various teams to transition products from the conceptual stage to market. Armed with access to cutting-edge facilities and a culture rich in knowledge and support, the position is pivotal in pushing the boundaries of material science and delivering substantial industry contributions.

Key Responsibilities

The PHD Analyst will be tasked with a multifaceted role centered around technical innovation, collaborative project management, foundational research execution, and revenue growth through strategic client engagement. This comprehensive position encompasses:

• Quality & Technical Innovation: Enhancing quality standards and ensuring quality control by adopting the latest solutions in the development of new polymer formulations and comprehensive material characterizations, aimed at advancing existing material science capabilities.
• Collaborative Project Management: Working effectively across various teams to transition innovative products from the conceptual stage to market readiness, ensuring seamless integration and implementation.
• Direct Communication with Customers: Enhancing and improving the company’s customer communications and product development, manufacturing and application issues and resolutions. On site customer visits to perform quality audits and application bench testing will be an important part of this position.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyzing experimental data meticulously to produce comprehensive reports and provide actionable insights and recommendations that drive project development forward.
• Scientific Contribution: Aiming to contribute to scientific papers and patents, showcasing the capability to drive advancements in the field of material science.
• Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance: Gaining familiarity with regulatory standards and quality assurance processes relevant to industries such as aerospace, defense, transportation, and electronics, ensuring all products meet stringent requirements.
• Research Execution: Delivering solutions that meet the sophisticated material needs of a diverse client base, focusing on improving performance and environmental sustainability.
• Professional Development: Engaging in continuous learning to enhance technical skills and understanding of the field, supported by the company’s culture rich in knowledge and mentorship.
• Stakeholder Communication: Developing excellent communication skills to effectively share findings and strategies with both technical and non-technical stakeholders within the organization.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Encouraging a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by staying updated with the latest industry trends and advancements in polymer science.
• Revenue Growth and Client Engagement: Demonstrating the capacity to contribute to revenue growth by understanding market needs and enhancing client retention through innovative product development. Building strong relationships with clients to ensure product solutions are closely aligned with their needs.
• Business Acumen and Aspiration: Showing potential and aspiration to manage business operations, including P&L responsibilities. Engaging in cross-functional training to understand financial management, strategic planning, and operational leadership.

This role is designed for a dynamic individual who can integrate robust scientific knowledge with practical application to drive the company’s research efforts forward, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic objectives and contributing to the industry's advancement.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for the Aerospace Analyst position should possess a recent PhD in Polymer Science, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field. Ideally, the candidate will have an interest in the Aerospace industry and should demonstrate foundational knowledge in polymer synthesis and material characterization, with an eagerness to apply theoretical learning in practical, industry-related applications. The role requires strong problem-solving capabilities and the ability to collaborate effectively with various teams to advance products from conceptualization to market. Candidates should show potential for contributing to scientific papers and patents and be familiar with basic data analysis software and modeling tools. Excellent communication skills are essential for this position, allowing for effective information sharing across departments. A keen interest in regulatory standards and quality assurance within relevant industries such as aerospace or automotive is also beneficial.

Other:

This position description is not intended to be an all-encompassing list of duties and responsibilities of the job described nor is it intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, it is intended only to describe the general nature of the job and be a reasonable representation of activities.

The Goodwin Group is committed to a selection process that creates a diverse pool of qualified candidates with a focus on diversity and inclusion and will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

While we sincerely appreciate all interest, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Relocation to Atlanta is required. Ideally, the candidate is already planning or seriously considering moving to this area.