ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Polymer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Kodiak Sciences Inc.

Polymer Chemist

Palo Alto, CA

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 ...

Kodiak Sciences Inc.

Polymer Chemist

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

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 ...

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Polymer Chemist

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

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 ...

Purosil LLC

Polymer Materials Scientist

Corona, CA · On-site

Your New Challenge in Polymer Chemistry? Are you looking for a growing entrepreneurial organization where you can make a significant impact? We need a visionary polymer chemist and/or material ...

Verde Bioresins, Inc

Polymer Chemist

Fullerton, CA

$100K - $125K/yr

Polymer Chemist will be responsible for formulating and testing new bio-based polymers and additives for production, testing their characterization and analyzing experimental results to guide future ...

Starpath

Polymer Chemist - Space Solar

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

Polymer Chemist - Space Solar Position Details Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA Employment Type: Full-time Department: Starlight Solar Travel: Occasional About Starpath Starpath develops and ...

TekWissen LLC

Scientist - Polymer Chemistry

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$23 - $28/hr

Scientist I, Manufacturing Sciences / Scientist - Polymer Chemistry Location: Sunnyvale, CA - 94085 Duration: 12 Months Job Type: Temporary Assignment Work Type: Onsite Shift: Monday to Friday from ...

Verde Bioresins, Inc

Sr Polymer Chemist

Fullerton, CA

$120K - $130K/yr

Polymer Chemist will report to our Head of R&D and will be responsible for formulating and testing new bio-based polymers and additives for production, testing their characterization and analyzing ...

1X

Chemical Engineer, Polymer Coatings

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$200 - $248/hr

You will lead a polymer chemistry-driven research and development efforts focused on novel polymer coating materials for load-bearing composites applications. You'll design experiments, characterize ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPolymer JobsPolymer Jobs in California

Polymer information

See California salary details

$49.8K

$88.2K

$153K

How much do polymer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for polymer 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 a polymer?

A Polymer job typically involves working with synthetic or natural polymers in research, development, production, or quality control. Professionals in this field may be chemists, engineers, or technicians who design, test, and optimize polymer materials for various applications, such as plastics, coatings, adhesives, and composites. Their work is essential in industries like automotive, healthcare, packaging, and electronics. Responsibilities may include formulating new materials, improving existing products, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the polymer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Polymer Scientist or Engineer, a strong background in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering is essential, often supported by a relevant degree or advanced certification. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, polymer synthesis techniques, and analytical tools such as FTIR, DSC, or GPC is typically required. Excellent problem-solving skills, creativity, and strong collaboration abilities help individuals excel in both research and industrial settings. Mastering these skills and qualifications ensures innovation, safe material design, and successful project outcomes in the competitive field of polymer science.

What are the typical career advancement paths for professionals in polymer science or engineering roles?

Polymer professionals often start in research, product development, or quality control positions and can advance to senior scientist, project manager, or technical leader roles as they gain experience. With additional education or specialized training, opportunities in management, consulting, or regulatory affairs are also common. Many companies support professional development through conferences, certifications, and advanced degrees, facilitating growth into leadership positions. Joining multidisciplinary teams or working on high-impact projects can further accelerate career progression, making this field dynamic and full of opportunities for advancement.

Is polymer science a good career?

Polymer science is a specialized field focused on the development and application of polymer materials, often requiring a background in chemistry or materials science. Careers in this area can offer opportunities in research, manufacturing, and product development, with roles typically involving laboratory work and technical skills. Job prospects depend on industry demand and individual qualifications, with some positions requiring advanced degrees or certifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Polymer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Polymer jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Polymer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Polymer job openings:

Polymer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $88,160 per year, or $42.4 per hour.

Polymer Chemist

Kodiak Sciences Inc.

Palo Alto, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job 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.