Chemical Engineer Research And Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture- Where Innovation Meets Comfort
Who We Are:
At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we're more than a business - we're a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.
If you're ready to grow, you've come to the right place. With a true "Growth Mindset," Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.
If you are a current Ashley employee: Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board.
Job Summary: The Chemical Engineer-Foam Pouring, will be responsible for developing and optimizing foam production processes, ensuring product quality, and maintaining compliance with safety and environmental standards. This role requires a deep understanding of chemical engineering principles, foam chemistry, and manufacturing processes.
Key Responsibilities:
Process Design and Optimization:
• Develop and refine foam pouring processes to ensure efficient production and high-quality foam products.
• Optimize chemical formulations and reaction conditions to achieve desired foam properties.
Research and Development:
• Conduct experiments to improve foam characteristics such as density, elasticity, and durability.
• Innovate new foam materials and production techniques.
Quality Control:
• Monitor and analyze production data to ensure consistency and quality of foam products.
• Implement quality control measures and troubleshoot any issues that arise during production.
Safety and Compliance:
• Ensure all processes comply with safety, health, and environmental regulations.
• Develop and enforce safety protocols to protect workers and the environment.
Collaboration:
• Work closely with other engineers, production staff, and departments to achieve production goals.
• Communicate findings and recommendations through technical reports and documentation.
Skills and Knowledge:
• Foam Chemistry: Understanding the chemical properties and reactions involved in foam production, particularly with materials like polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).
• Process Simulation: Proficiency in using simulation software to model and optimize foam pouring processes.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills to identify and resolve process-related issues.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with safety and environmental regulations relevant to chemical manufacturing.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in the foam pouring or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of foam chemistry and manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency in process simulation software (e.g., Aspen Plus, HYSYS).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Knowledge of safety and environmental regulations.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Experience with polyurethane foam production.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Work Environment:
This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.
Benefits We Offer:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values:

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.

• Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.

• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.

• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.

• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.

• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.

• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.

Interested in learning more about Ashley Furniture's Community Engagement programs, Environmental Stewardship, or our Core Values, click the links below:
Corporate Social Responsibility
View Our Corporate Brochure
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
Notice to Search Firms: We are not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms. We will not pay any placement, referral or other fees to any search firms unless we have agreed otherwise in a valid, written agreement for the specific position posted and signed by an authorized representative of Ashley Furniture Industries.
Please note this position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or at any time in the future.