Application Development Scientist/Engineer ( HVAC ) Job

Situation in Organization:

This position is based at Arkema’s King of Prussia, PA, R&D Center, and reports to the R&D Director for Fluorochemicals Americas.  The King of Prussia R&D Center is one of Arkema’s main campuses for R&D globally, developing innovative materials for a sustainable world.

Job Dimensions:

The position leads the global development and adoption effort to support growth in innovative and sustainable solutions for thermal management systems in applications in air conditioning and refrigeration. The role collaborates with colleagues and partners around the world, leveraging Arkema’s global technical expertise and external networks in an inclusive innovation culture to drive sustainable growth. Influential participation in key industry associations as Arkema’s leading technical representative on codes and standards is an important aspect of this role. 

Key Activities and Responsibilities:

• Lead projects with customers to support adoption of more energy efficient, lower GWP refrigerants in HVAC and Refrigeration applications. 
• Initiate and lead new technical projects aimed at developing innovative uses for fluorinated refrigerants in unmet marketplace needs for thermal management.  
• Take leading role in relevant industry associations working to develop codes and standards for the adoption and safe use of new refrigerants/heat transfer fluids (ASHRAE, ISO, UL, AHRTI, SAE, etc.). 
• Stay current with technical and industry trends, as well as relevant technical and scientific literature, translating insights into actionable initiatives to protect and grow Arkema’s portfolio of thermal management fluids.  
• Protect and defend Arkema intellectual property; present technical papers at major conferences.  
• Use knowledge and experience in thermal management to design and execute experiments, internally or externally, to evaluate refrigerants for different applications. 
• Responsible for high standard of laboratory safety and rigorous adherence to safety protocols and procedures.

Context and Environment:

The position is part of a diverse team that manufactures and develops specialty fluorinated materials for use in a wide variety of applications – from thermal management solutions to advanced materials for energy storage and electronics.  The candidate will work safely and collaboratively with other technical staff at all levels in a hands-on research laboratory environment. They will report directly to the R&D Director but will also interface with higher levels of Arkema R&D and business leadership, and with international colleagues and customers. Leveraging know-how across businesses and functions is encouraged.  There will be travel to partner sites, trade shows, conferences and other Arkema locations.  In addition, the candidate 

• Supports the site HES policy and complies with all regulatory and internal requirements 
• Participates in HES activities provided by site management and Arkema Inc. (e.g., Behavioral Base Safety, SafeStart, etc.) 
• Supports and promotes the reporting of all health, safety, environmental, near-miss, accident or injury incidents 

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• MS degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering with 5+ years of relevant industrial experience in HVAC and refrigeration  
• Experience working with ASHRAE, ISO, AHRI and UL or similar organizations 
• Working knowledge of refrigeration systems and components 
• Experience handling refrigerant components and blends 
• In-depth knowledge of physical and analytical chemistry, thermodynamics, and computational modeling of refrigerant properties and behaviors (ASPEN, REFPROP, etc.) 

Demonstrated Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills with a track record of collaboration, networking, and teamwork. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to present results clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences. 
• Self-starting ability with exceptional time and project management skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead a team. 
• Demonstrated problem-solving/troubleshooting and data analysis skills. 
• Ability to read/understand/write patents to maximize IP value capture. 

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into three complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials - Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions - accounting for some 80% of Group sales, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of €9.5 billion ($10.6 billion) in 2021, and operates in 55 countries with 20,500 employees worldwide.

The diversity of its employees is an asset that the Arkema group wants to preserve. Its non-discrimination policy applies to recruitment, salary levels and career management. The Arkema group is committed to ensuring diversity among its employees.

Arkema Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Arkema Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence.