Product Development Chemist @ Actalent

Job Title: Product Development ChemistJob DescriptionThe Customer Applications Chemist is a hands-on technical role that bridges laboratory science, product development, and real-world customer applications. This position involves expertise in water chemistry and PFAS treatment along with direct customer and field engagement. It is ideal for a chemist who wants to expand beyond traditional laboratory work and experience technology in real-world applications.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate customer water chemistry for PFAS treatment suitability and destruction technologies.
• Interpret laboratory and customer data to recommend suitable treatment approaches based on specific water matrices and application requirements.
• Participate in customer-facing technical discussions throughout project evaluation and development.
• Translate complex laboratory findings into clear, practical recommendations for customers and internal teams.
• Support technical evaluations to determine pilot opportunities and potential commercial applications.
• Design, execute, and analyze laboratory experiments supporting customer applications, treatability studies, product development, and technology validation.
• Conduct testing on customer water samples to understand treatment performance and application requirements.
• Analyze and summarize experimental data to support technical decisions, customer deliverables, and project objectives.
• Identify technical challenges during testing and recommend solutions, additional experimentation, or process adjustments.
• Maintain accurate experimental documentation, data traceability, and consistent laboratory practices.
• Travel to customer facilities as needed, up to 40% of the time, to support pilot planning, startup, operation, troubleshooting, and performance evaluation.
• Collaborate with engineers, chemists, operators, and customer personnel during pilot operations and interpret field performance data.
• Communicate technical findings and observations back to internal product development and project teams.
• Connect laboratory results with field performance to improve future customer applications.
• Support the continued development and optimization of water treatment processes through laboratory experimentation and data analysis.
• Evaluate new treatment approaches, technologies, and potential application opportunities.
• Use findings from laboratory studies and customer deployments to help improve product performance and reliability.
• Collaborate across scientific, engineering, commercial, and operational teams to advance technologies toward successful commercial deployment.
• Follow established safety requirements, laboratory procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Maintain a safe, organized, and well-documented laboratory environment.
• Maintain accurate and consistent documentation of experiments, test results, and technical findings.
• Demonstrate professionalism when working with customers and representing the organization in field and industry settings.

Essential Skills

• B.S. or M.S. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 25 years of experience in chemistry, water treatment, applications, or a related technical environment.
• Comfortable working directly with customers and traveling to customer sites to support field trials and real-world technology applications.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to translate technical findings into practical recommendations.
• Strong laboratory skills with focus on accuracy, consistency, and attention to detail.
• Understanding of water treatment processes, environmental chemistry, and/or water chemistry.
• Ability to interpret laboratory data alongside customer needs and product capabilities to identify effective treatment solutions.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques such as LC-MS, TOC analysis, ion chromatography, or similar instrumentation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in customer applications and product development.
• Knowledge of PFAS treatment and destruction technologies.
• Expertise in ion chromatography.

Work EnvironmentThe position is located on-site at the headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with travel up to 40% to support pilot planning, startup, and operation at customer sites. Travel is primarily within the US, with less frequent travel outside the US. The work schedule is Monday to Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM. The environment is an exciting, growing start-up with a diverse team dedicated to solving critical environmental problems. An open dog policy is present, so candidates should be comfortable with this.

Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.

Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $28.80 - $36.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision

Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Oct 31, 2026.

Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Minneapolis,MN.About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.