Lead Customer Development Chemist

PPG Industries, Inc
$95,000 to $105,000, with a possibility of an annual bonus up to 7% of base salary. PPG offers comprehensive benefits such as Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Plan, Paid Vacation & Holidays, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Disability/Leave, and other V
retirement plan
United States, Ohio, Cleveland
3800 West 143rd Street (Show on map)
Apr 02, 2026
The DCS Customer Support Chemist Lead will be a technical expert in coatings technology and color, supporting Automotive OEM customers as part of our product development team. You will lead new color and product development projects, ensures successful product launches, and collaborates with customers and our teams to guide innovation, quality, and growth. The base salary range for this position is $95,000 to $105,000, with a possibility of an annual bonus up to 7% of base salary. PPG offers comprehensive benefits such as Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Plan, Paid Vacation & Holidays, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Disability/Leave, and other Voluntary benefit offerings. Actual benefit offerings confirmed at the time of hire. Key Responsibilities Lead new color and product development, including approval through NPI processes and successful launch execution. Manage color development activities, including hand-off from design/core teams to DCS teams and ensuring on-time, in-full (OTIF) launches. Support automotive OEM coatings (including solventborne basecoats) across multiple customers. Create formulations within ERP systems. Design and implement testing matrices for specification validation, product confirmation, and customer approval. Use statistical analysis and DOE tools to drive product development and improvement projects. Manage custom or special projects addressing customer requests and production or line issues. Establish and implement best practices for color program management and development processes. Partner directly with OEM customers to communicate technical recommendations and ensure product and process compliance. Collaborate to support projects tied to business growth and customer success. Maintain lab safety standards and proactive 5S practices. Mentor and develop team members while contributing to training on technology and processes. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or related field with 5-6 years of experience, OR Master's degree with 2-3 years of experience Experience with coatings technology, with expertise in color development and product formulation. Experience supporting automotive OEM customers and managing product development or launch activities. Proficiency with IT tools such as GSM, RMT, and NPD systems. Experience applying experimental design and statistical analysis (DOE) in product development. Prior experience leading a team and in project management. #LI-onsite PPG /PPG