Research Scientist

Purpose of the job:

DuPont Water & Protection is recruiting a Mechanical Engineer to join our dedicated R&D team located at the DuPont Water Solutions (DWS) FilmTec site in Edina, MN. We are looking for people who have a passion for delivering innovative, sustainable solutions that meet our customer needs for a better, healthier, and safer life. Water & Protection is a leading provider of engineered products and integrated systems for the construction, worker safety, energy, oil & gas, transportation, water purification, and medical markets. 

DuPont Water Solutions is the leading innovator and manufacturer of reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) products, which are some of the most important technologies for responding to growing global water purity and scarcity challenges.

We’re looking for a candidate capable of becoming our chief technical focal point around element and system design.  This role supports the RO/NF Research & Development (R&D) group, which is responsible for the development of FilmTec™ membranes and spiral wound elements for the water treatment industry.  S/he will be responsible for long term development of differentiated new RO/NF element technology to reduce end user energy costs, water impurities, and fouling, as well as short term implementation of RO/NF element technology for new product launches.  The role involves interaction with external-to-DuPont-researchers and ideas, development and validation of internal ideas with cross-functional teams of R&D, Manufacturing Technology (MT), and Operations experts, and strategic collaboration with Marketing and other commercial functions to prioritize and execute the innovation pipeline.

Key responsibilities include:

• Applying fundamental engineering principles to shape our innovation pipeline and to design products that meet customers technical requirements and differentiate DuPont from the competition

• Proposing and implementing research programs that deliver technologies and tools for improved membrane products and manufacturing

• Working closely with Application Development and Marketing functions to understand customer technical requirements

• Quickly screening technology alternatives and choosing the best cost/performance path to meet needs of our customers and differentiate DuPont from the competition

• Assessing competitive technologies to shape our technology strategy

• Having an in-depth understanding of the patent and journal literature

• Working with the legal department to shape our IP strategy

• Leading product development projects

• Supporting MT and Operations functions to scale up products

• Assist the Technical Service function in troubleshooting customer issues

• Assist MT and Operations in troubleshooting product problems in manufacturing plants

Qualifications:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

• >4 years of experience in industrial research

• The ability to draw broadly upon mechanical engineering fundamentals, including static and dynamic analyses, deformable body mechanics, heat and mass transfer, and fluid flow

• Experience in the design, modeling, prototyping, and mechanical testing of manufactured parts

• Technical proficiency in Design of Experiments and statistical methods of data interpretation

• Expertise in the application of fluid mechanics and mass transfer fundamentals to product development, including computational methods

• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills – position requires strong interaction in multi-functional team environment especially cross-functionally within DuPont

• Capable of leading projects through the complete product development cycle

• Good skills in written and spoken English required

• Must be a self-starter who takes the initiative to find solutions to technical challenges

• Must show evidence of sound engineering judgment/intuition and have a track record of creating value through innovation

• This role is located in Edina, MN and may require <10% time traveling

• A minimum requirement for this U.S. based position is the ability to work legally in the United States; no visa sponsorship/support is available for this position.

Critical Competencies:

• Innovation:  Generates novel and valuable ideas or applies existing ideas in new ways; applies creativity to solve problems or to develop new or improved products, processes, or services.

• Scientific Method:  Makes appropriate and effective use of the scientific method to define and rapidly address technical problems and opportunities; envisions a critical path through complex problems by developing, testing and modifying hypotheses with appropriate design of experiments and data analysis; creatively initiates, develops, and implements value-creating innovative solutions for customers and clients; quantifies, manages, communicates and takes appropriate risk; conducts scientific work with the highest standards of ethics and in compliance with all legal requirements; effectively leads technical projects and uses appropriate work processes while achieving balance between process discipline and freedom for creative scientific discovery; makes DuPont’s environmental, health and safety standards, including sustained development principles, an integral part of job.

• Technical Knowledge:  Discovers, develops, and maintains in-depth technical knowledge relevant to the DuPont Water Solutions business, capabilities, customers and competitors; identifies high value opportunities for the development of new technology through outside-in perspectives and/or use of external relationships; understands and leverages current and emerging technologies; utilizes technical knowledge from field(s) of expertise to create value-adding products, processes, and business opportunities for the corporation.

• Leadership:  Influences and guides others toward identifying vision and goals; provides purpose and direction; motivates and enthuses others

• Initiative:  Takes independent action; attempts to influence events to achieve results; seizes opportunities in a responsive manner; has a bias for action and taking appropriate risks.

Critical Success Factors:

• Embraces learning from others with the aim of becoming our business technical focal point for RO/NF element and system design

• Develops a deep understanding of literature (patents, publications, internal reports) and uses it to design a comprehensive roadmap to a next generation of advantaged products

• Prioritizes projects to bring maximum value to customers and DuPont

• Leads and develops peers

• Researches, develops, and incorporates new ideas and process improvements

• Makes original contributions to area of expertise and applies tested ideas from other fields

• Integrates information from other parts of the company and outside the company to improve projects

• Negotiates conflict in a way that causes projects to move forward

• Alerts others who are affected by his/her work when or before problems arise

• Overcomes obstacles to achieve results

• Identifies and mitigates potential risks associated with opportunities

• Works independently to produce quality results

DuPont is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.

For US Applicants: See the “Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law” poster at: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
For our U.S. Affirmative Action Policy, click here.