Process R&D Chemist

Location: Mt Pleasant, MI (onsite)

Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday; occasional weekends during trials/scale-up

Reports to: Director of Process Development

About ACPT

ACP Technologies is an agile, innovative, growth-oriented company commercializing a proprietary mesophase pitch process. Our carbon materials—mesophase pitch, isotropic pitch, graphite, carbon fiber, and carbon-carbon composites—support next-generation applications in lithium-ion batteries, rockets, and defense systems, with programs funded by the DoD and DLA. You’ll join a hands-on team scaling breakthrough processes from pilot to production and partnering closely with engineers and customers.

The Opportunity

You’ll be the chemistry lead on a small, hands-on team translating lab insight into plant results. You’ll design and interpret DOEs, develop analytical methods, and turn data into actionable setpoints the operations team can run—directly supporting our Senior Process R&D Technician and Engineering team on pilot and production equipment.

What You’ll Do

Process & Scale-Up

• Design DOEs and participate in trial plans for high-temperature/vacuum pitch processing; define hypotheses, sample plans, and success criteria.
• Translate lab findings into process windows, setpoints, control limits, and batch instructions; author/redline SOPs and batch sheets.

Operations Partnership

• Provide technical expertise for experimental trials, coach technicians on sampling, hot handling, inert transfers, and data logging.
• Review batch records and trend data; publish concise run summaries and recommendations for next experimental iterations.
• Collaborate on equipment readiness (cleanouts, changeovers, PM checks) and emissions/utility best practices.

Analytical Science

• Own in-process and release testing: softening point (Mettler/ring-and-ball), viscosity (Brookfield/capillary), density/SG, moisture (Karl Fischer/LOD), ash/volatile matter, insolubles (e.g., toluene/quinoline), basic particle size, and others.
• Coordinate/execute characterization of carbon materials (BET surface area/porosity, XRD indicators, DSC/TGA).

Quality, Safety & Documentation

• Model lab and plant safety for hot/flammable materials and inerting; participate in near-miss reviews and safety improvements.
• Prepare customer/government update slides and technical one-pagers.

What You’ll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Chemistry (or Chemical Engineering with strong chemistry focus); M.S. preferred.
• 4+ years in process development or manufacturing support for heavy organics, polymers, pitch/asphalt, carbon materials, or refinery operations involving high temperature and vacuum/distillation.
• Demonstrated DOE design/analysis (e.g., factorials, response surfaces) and strong data skills (Excel; JMP/Minitab a plus).
• Hands-on familiarity with reactors, thermal oil systems, condensers/heat exchangers, furnaces/ovens, vacuum systems, pumps/filtration.
• Clear technical writing; disciplined documentation habits; collaborative problem solver comfortable on the plant floor.
• Physical: prolonged standing, stairs/ladders, and safe lifting to ~50 lb.
• U.S. citizenship is a requirement.

Preferred

• Experience with mesophase/isotropic pitch, carbonization/graphitization, or thermal processing of heavy organics.
• Scale-up from pilot to production; method development and validation; SPC and capability analysis.
• Basic fabrication/rigging familiarity (hose/line setup, fittings, seals).

What We Offer

ACPT provides a casual, friendly work environment

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; HSA; 401(k) with 6% match; paid time off; life insurance; and more.

Pay: At or better than industry standards.

Work Location: Mt Pleasant, MI.

Relocation: Willing to relocate preferred.