Research Scientist (Natural Product/Organic Chemistry Focus)

About the Company

Headquartered in West Sacramento, Origin Materials is the world's leading carbon negative materials company. Origin’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials. For over a decade, Origin has developed a platform for turning the carbon found in inexpensive, plentiful, non-food biomass such as sustainable wood residues into useful materials while capturing carbon in the process. Origin’s patented technology platform can help revolutionize the production of a wide range of end products, including clothing, textiles, plastics, packaging, car parts, tires, carpeting, toys, fuels, and more with a ~$1 trillion addressable market. In addition, Origin’s technology platform is expected to provide stable pricing largely decoupled from the petroleum supply chain, which is exposed to more volatility than supply chains based on sustainable wood residues. Origin’s patented drop-in core technology, economics and carbon impact are supported by a growing list of major global customers and investors. For more information, visit www.originmaterials.com.

Our People

We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. When you take a job at Origin, you do more than switch companies or advance your career. You become part of the Origin community: an inclusive group of hardworking, uniquely talented people who drive innovation.

Benefits and Perks

You will work with great people. You will be joining a close-knit group of A+ players who like to hustle, create, and work hard because we believe in Origin’s mission: to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials.
You will make a difference. We’re working on big things, so every person can make make an impact.
You will grow. There are endless opportunities at Origin to learn and improve. You’ll be surrounded by great minds and presented with big challenges. And you and your teammates will support one another in overcoming those challenges.
You will enjoy excellent benefits. We offer a wide range of insurance including Medical and Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life, as well as a 401k, EAP, and generous leave.
You will have flexibility. We don’t believe in one size fits all when it comes to work location and schedule. We care about safety and efficiency so work where and when you are at your best. While we try to be as flexible as possible and allow our team to work various hours in various locations, some positions do require daily, onsite work. Also, we recognize our team works hard so we want you to take time off when you need it. That’s why we have a flexible time off policy.

About the Position

Origin is a Chemical company located in West Sacramento, CA. Our mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable materials. Origin is currently pursuing the development of plastics, such as PET, and other materials, such as carbon black, from biorenewable sources. Research Scientists (Chemistry Focus) lead R&D projects involving the foundational research and product development of compounds derived from Origin’s process. They help bring Origin’s innovative technology out of the lab and into commercial operation. You will be responsible for experimental process design and implementation and will work closely with the R&D team and the Technical Director of Research. This involves setting up all types of glassware bench-scale equipment, conducting experiments, performing detailed analysis of results, and writing technical reports. The successful candidate has a PhD or 5+ years of industry experience, has conducted either many analysis of complex reaction mixtures composed of +10 compounds by running challenging separation techniques or has run many organic chemistry reactions, and understands how to improve process efficiency, reduce cost, and improve sustainability. Scientists will also mentor chemists in operating the equipment and gathering data efficiently and safely while keeping assigned units and areas clean. Employees must follow safe work practices including use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Advancement to higher levels within this career track will be possible as the complexity and number of tasks which are performed autonomously increase.

You will be responsible for:

Contributing to Company's Intellectual Property Portfolio including submitting new invention disclosure forms and supporting the patent prosecution process.

• Lab Work:
  • Design, develop and run reactions using all glassware types under various conditions to produce varied mixture of products
  • Using various separation technologies, isolate individual products from complex mixtures of compounds in organic/aqueous phases.
  • Characterize and quantify individual compounds from complex mixtures of compounds by using internal and external analytical capabilities
  • Manage and train associate chemists in your team to support the program
  • Drive the progress of technical programs in product characterization, formation origin, process development and commercial operations troubleshooting
  • Provide in-depth technical consultation to commercial implementation teams on compound properties
  • Lead troubleshooting of existing processes when observations deviate from known procedure
  • Evaluate the chemical and physical properties of various substances
  • Coordinate equipment procurement and external analysis as necessary
• Reporting:
  • Maintain an electronic notebook detailing all data measured, observations, and steps performed
  • Collect, analyze, and process raw data using standard software and techniques
  • Apply first principles knowledge to explain observations via the creation of models
  • Present and report research results in projects, program reviews, technical committees, as well as patents, peer-reviewed journals, and conferences

About You

You:

• Can safely manage the physical demands/working environment
  • Are able to work with glassware and Parr reactors
  • Are able to safely handle hazardous materials
  • Drive to local university to use their analytical equipment
• Place safety at the top of your priority list
  • Are comfortable working with flammable / hazardous chemicals and wear appropriate PPE

Your Experience:

Have to Have it:

• Education and professional experience:
  • A Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry, or a closely related science discipline where the curriculum include some of the following:
    • the study of natural products isolation
    • bio oil products characterization
    • natural product total synthesis
  • Experience in multiple separation technologies of organic and aqueous phases such as column chromatography (many media types), extraction, distillation, crystallization
  • Experience in molecular characterization comprising but not limited to NMR, GCMS, LCMS
  • Ability to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously with solid problem-solving skills
  • Strong commitment to operational excellence in the lab, office, and chemical plant environment
  • Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
  • Strong communication skills (oral and written)
• Skills:
  • Value a safety culture. You have respect for and are comfortable working with hazardous chemicals
  • Flexibility to work on a wide variety of experimental procedures
  • Collaborate and communicate within your department and across the company
  • Follow procedures with keen attention to details and approach problems with critical thinking

Bonus:

• A track record of successful identification/quantification of mixture of 10 or more compounds
• An excellent track record of productive and creative research demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals and/or issued patents

Disclaimer:
This position is a Level 3 at Origin Materials. The pay range for this position level at Origin Materials is $83,000 - $160,500. This range is not necessarily a guarantee of actual compensation that may be earned nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on relevant experience, education and other factors.