Covia responsibly provides minerals solutions for a better tomorrow. As a leading provider of diversified minerals, our products support a variety of industrial markets, including glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, and sports and recreation. Long-standing relationships with a broad customer base enable Covia’s market-inspired approach to innovation to enhance solutions and customer benefits. Underpinning these strengths is an unwavering commitment to safety and to sustainable development, further enhancing the value that Covia delivers to all its stakeholders.
Covia is looking for a dynamic Coatings Application Scientist who will have a positive impact on the Applications Development Team in Concord, NC. The focus of the Coatings Application Scientist is to discover and develop new applications, enhance performance characteristics, and generate differentiated value propositions for customers in a wide variety of coatings markets (e.g. architectural, industrial, protective, automotive, and specialty coatings)
The successful incumbent will have the following Key Accountabilities:
- Design, execute, and analyze laboratory experiments to evaluate mineral functionality in various coating systems to prove or disprove value propositions.
- Develop prototype products and technical proof‑of‑concepts demonstrating the value of mineral‑based solutions.
- Translate voice of customers (VOC) into actionable new product development (NPD) project with defined performance attributes.
- Work cross-functionally to align material properties with coating requirements.
- Serve as internal expert on coating technologies and mineral–binder interactions.
- Identify emerging trends, unmet market needs, and novel opportunities where minerals can create new performance or cost advantages.
- Support IP strategy and stay up to date to competitive IP.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment consistent with company safety and housekeeping standards.
- Ensure all lab equipment is properly calibrated, serviced, and functioning; coordinate maintenance, repairs, and equipment upgrades as needed.
- Develop and follow SOPs for equipment operation, sample handling, and test procedures.
- Monitor inventory of chemicals, minerals, consumables, and supplies, ensuring availability for ongoing projects.
- Supervise lab technicians.
The successful incumbent will have the following Minimum Qualifications:
- Strong understanding of coating chemistries, formulation science, and film‑forming mechanisms.
- Hands‑on experience with coating raw materials, pigments, extenders, additives, and binders.
- Experience in various paint and coating systems (waterborne, solvent borne, powder, UV-curable)
- Knowledge of analytical techniques and mechanical performance evaluations.
- Ability to translate scientific concepts into commercial value.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work in cross‑functional teams.
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering with 10 years’ experience in the relevant industry, or Master /Ph. D degree with 5 years of industrial experience
Commitment to Our Culture:
Our core values - Safety, Team, Customers, Growth, and Courage—guide our work every day and will help us achieve our vision: Covia is the leading minerals solutions provider, and through the passion and commitment of our people, we enable customer success—ensuring a sustainable future for our company.
All Covia Team Members are expected to:
- Live the Life-Saving Rules
- Build high-performing work teams
- Focus on customers
- Demonstrate a growth mindset
- Do the right thing, always
At Covia, we strive for and support a diverse workforce as we firmly believe this lays the foundation of our success. Our compelling culture supports inclusion, individuality, and respect within the workplace. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to the most qualified candidate based on work-related factors and without regard to non-work-related factors including race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or military service or reserve or veteran status.
The organization offers competitive salaries, advancement opportunities, and a full range of benefits.
Benefits:
- Excellent Healthcare Benefits – medical, vision, dental
- 401K with company matching
- Vacation + Paid Holidays
- Disability, Life / AD&D, and Long-Term Care Insurances
- Employee Assistance Program
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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