Principal R&D Scientist

Job Title: Principal R&D Scientist

Location: Aston, PA

Job Type: On-Site

Reporting to: R&D Director

Direct Reports: NA

Company Overview

FXI is a leading manufacturer of polyurethane foam, which provides an array of comfort solutions to the Bedding, Furniture and Transportation markets. We have made it our mission to provide tailored solutions that delight our customers and consumers. We are an industry leader in the rapidly growing Mattress in a Box segment of the bedding market. We have created a “molecules to doorstep” business model that leverages our leading innovation, scale, and footprint to deliver our own brands as well as other leading brands to the market and to consumers doorsteps. With our corporate headquarters, high-tech research and development facility, and multiple manufacturing locations in North America, FXI has built a culture of innovation and achievement that is recognized by customers, suppliers and peers. We provide one of the broadest sets of comfort solutions to the broadest set of industry players, through the broadest manufacturing platform in the industry. You will find FXI’s comfort technologies inside countless applications you encounter every day. Everywhere comfort is needed, FXI’s innovations lead the way! We are always looking for best-in-class talent to join our innovative, fun, and value-driven culture. What are you waiting for?

Site Overview

At our Research & Development team in our state‑of‑the‑art Innovation Center in Aston, PA, you’ll have access to advanced analytical and processing tools that support cutting‑edge work in polyurethane chemistry and foam technology. As part of this team, you will lead high‑impact projects, contribute directly to technical and medical‑grade foam products used in real‑world applications, and serve as a technical expert and mentor within the organization.

Job Overview

As a Principal R&D Scientist you will operate within FXI’s Innovation Center, leading the development of advanced polyurethane foam materials, engineered for unique technical and medical applications. An ideal candidate is a highly skilled, hands-on, polymer scientist with a deep understanding of polymer chemistry and materials science, polymer formulation experience, and a strong problem-solving mindset. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in polymers, materials, and chemistry to drive innovation in polyurethane foam formulations and products. You will collaborate with business unit leaders, manufacturing teams, and cross-functional partners in sales and marketing to execute strategic development projects to expand FXI’s portfolio of products and markets. This position will own the end‑to‑end lifecycle of new material development: from concept and formulation development through testing, scale‑up, and commercial implementation. By utilizing the advanced pilot production machinery, analytical tools, testing infrastructure, and deep technical resources within our research organization, you will generate novel solutions and products for high-value medical and technical markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of novel polyurethane foam formulations for technical and medical applications
• Drive innovation in polymer chemistry to create differentiated products with enhanced performance.
• Collaborate with business development leaders to determine chemistry and product requirements
• Create testing methodologies to quantify product performance in non-standard applications
• Facilitate the transition of new foam formulations from the laboratory bench to large-scale manufacturing
• Report research and development findings in written and presentation format
• Deliver presentations to internal and external audiences.
  
  

Skills / Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Science, or closely related field
• Bachelor’s Degree with 10 years of experience will also be considered
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in polymer formulation development or related work
• Experience with medical-grade materials and regulatory requirements (preferred)
• Expert-level knowledge of polymer chemistry and structure-property relationships, ideally with a focus on polyurethanes
• Skilled in developing and validating test methods to quantify performance-critical properties (preferred)
• Proven skill in transitioning formulations from lab-scale to manufacturing-scale production (preferred)
• Experience in technical service and/or technical applications development (preferred)
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with internal and external colleagues, fostering a collaborative workplace environment
• Ability to manage multiple high-impact projects simultaneously.
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
  

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Basic and optional life insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Tuition assistance
• Flexible spending accounts
  
  

Our Commitment To a Diverse Workforce

FXI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. FXI does not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identify or expression, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or based on any individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We support workplace diversity. We strongly believe that diversity contributes to a broader collective perspective that will consistently lead to a better company and better products. We are working hard to increase the diversity of our team wherever we can.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

FXI is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FXI via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of FXI. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by FXI as a result of the referral or through other means.