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Polymer Synthesis Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Polymer Chemist

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

Develop an automated synthesis system for high throughput formulation screening and validation. * Design and execute DOEs to establish key polymer structure-property-performance correlations.

PPG

Lead Synthesis Chemist

Burbank, CA

Success requires organic and polymer synthesis skills and the ability to collaborate to accomplish projects. You will report to the Senior Manager, Adhesives and Polymers at our Burbank, CA facility.

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All JobsPolymer Synthesis JobsPolymer Synthesis Jobs in California

Polymer Synthesis information

See California salary details

$49.8K

$88.2K

$153K

How much do polymer synthesis jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for polymer synthesis in California is $88,160.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,100.00 and $113,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is polymer synthesis?

Polymer synthesis is the process of creating polymers, which are large molecules made up of repeating structural units called monomers. This process can involve a variety of chemical reactions, such as addition and condensation polymerization, to combine small molecules into long chains or networks. Polymer synthesis is fundamental in producing materials like plastics, rubbers, fibers, and resins, which are used in countless everyday products. Professionals working in polymer synthesis often focus on designing new materials with specific physical and chemical properties for industrial, medical, or technological applications.

What challenges do professionals in polymer synthesis face, and how can they be managed?

Professionals in Polymer Synthesis often encounter challenges such as maintaining precise reaction conditions, ensuring product purity, and scaling up from laboratory to industrial production. Managing these challenges requires strong attention to detail, familiarity with advanced analytical techniques, and effective communication with cross-functional teams like process engineers and quality assurance. Staying updated on the latest developments in polymer chemistry and regularly participating in training can also help address technical issues more efficiently.

What is the difference between Polymer Synthesis vs Polymer Characterization?

AspectPolymer SynthesisPolymer Characterization
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials ScienceBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, Materials Science, or related fields
Work EnvironmentLaboratories focused on chemical reactions and material developmentLaboratories analyzing material properties and structure
Industry UsageDeveloping new polymers and materialsAssessing properties and quality of polymers
Common Search/ComparisonPolymer Synthesis vs Polymer Characterization

Polymer Synthesis involves creating new polymers through chemical reactions, focusing on developing materials with specific properties. Polymer Characterization, on the other hand, analyzes the properties and structure of existing polymers to ensure quality and performance. Both roles often require similar educational backgrounds but serve different stages in polymer development and testing.

What skills and qualifications are needed for polymer synthesis?

To thrive as a Polymer Synthesis Specialist, you need a solid background in organic and polymer chemistry, typically with at least a bachelor's or master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory techniques, analytical instrumentation (such as NMR, GPC, FTIR), and safety protocols is critical, and certifications in laboratory safety may be beneficial. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork and communication skills help you excel in research and collaborative environments. These competencies ensure accurate synthesis, effective troubleshooting, and the successful development of innovative polymer materials.

What are popular job titles related to Polymer Synthesis jobs in California?

For Polymer Synthesis jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Polymer Synthesis jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Polymer Synthesis jobs in California are:

Polymer Synthesis jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer Synthesis job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 68% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,160 per year, or $42.4 per hour.

Polymer Chemist

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

Description
Kodiak Sciences is a fast-growing clinical-stage biotechnology company with a strong focus in ophthalmology. Our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug (ABCD) platform merges the fields of protein engineering, organic chemistry, and polymer chemistry and is at the core of our discovery engine.
We are seeking a Polymer Chemist to join our Polymer Sciences Team, Department of Chemistry. The ideal candidate will be passionate and focused on developing new technologies that challenge the current boundaries. The candidate will use a combination of highly efficient organic chemistries and modern reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) polymerization techniques to synthesize high-performance functional polymers to support technology development at Kodiak Sciences.
This person will join a dynamic, collaborative research environment focused on engineering a new drug delivery platform for ophthalmology applications. The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience in modern RDRP polymerizations and air-free synthesis techniques. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in driving commercial innovation, GLP/GMP, designed experimentation and statistics (e.g., Six-Sigma methodologies) and/or project management tools. The successful candidate is sufficiently versed in organic chemistry techniques, including the design and synthesis of functionalized monomers and polymeric material characterization when needed.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and optimize polymerization processes for up to 100g scale functional polymer synthesis.
  • Support tech and process transfer of leading polymeric materials to development and CMC teams.
  • Develop an automated synthesis system for high throughput formulation screening and validation.
  • Design and execute DOEs to establish key polymer structure-property-performance correlations.
  • Maintain an awareness of technical literature and contacts to define new technical approaches, projects and areas of interest. Proactively bring in new technology from external community.
  • Develop analytical techniques to characterize new polymers and polymeric materials by using SEC-MALS, DLS, NMR, viscosity and other relevant techniques.
  • Summarize and report project results regularly with proper documentation and support intellectual property/patent filings.
  • Stakeholder relationship management and internal customer-centric, deliver impactful results and meeting project timelines, and pro-actively provide strategic inputs to R&D roadmap and future-generation product plans.
  • Follow the guidelines for laboratory safety, training procedures and records according to company and industrial standards.

Education/Experience
  • Ph.D. in polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field
  • Four or more years of relevant experience in biotech/pharma settings, or similar environments, or a relevant postdoc experience is preferred
  • Hands-on experience in large-scale batch synthesis or scale-up using modern RDRP methods.
  • Prior experience working with air- and moisture-sensitive substances using glovebox or Schlenk-techniques is required.
  • Experience with automation in polymer chemistry for high throughput formulation screening and development is a strong plus.
  • Prior polymer and materials characterization experience in SEC/GPC, NMR, UV-Vis, FT-IR, MALDI-ToF is required; experience in additional thermomechanical property characterizations e.g., DMA, DSC, TGA, and Rheology, and advanced characterization methods including TEM, SEM, SANS, SAXS, is a plus
  • Prior experience with polymer grafting, polymer end-group modification, and/or bioconjugate techniques is highly preferred.
  • Prior experience with GMP/GLP, and other manufacturing quality and project management tools (e.g., Six-Sigma and DFMEA) is highly preferred.
  • Prior experience synthesizing polymers for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery devices, polymer bioconjugates, polymeric hydrogels, nonviral gene therapy, etc. is required.
  • Good learning agility and self-driven. Capable of setting goals, planning, leading, and executing R&D projects is a must, as demonstrated by the ability to de-risk projects and manage course corrections.
  • Safety-conscious and continuously maintaining a safe work environment as a role model lab citizen is a must.
  • Excellent sense for detailed documentation and capture of key procedures, research results, and inventions in support of IP protection and commercial innovation is a must.
  • Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills are required for timeline management and driving projects to success.

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