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Polymer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Entegris

Principal Polymer Engineer - CMP Pads

Aurora, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Job Title: Principal Polymer Engineer - CMP Pads The Role Entegris is seeking a highly experienced and innovative Principal Polymer Engineer with deep expertise in polymer material design and ...

Entegris

Principal Polymer Engineer - CMP Pads

Aurora, IL

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Principal Polymer Engineer - CMP Pads The Role Entegris isseekinga highly experienced and innovative Principal Polymer Engineer with deepexpertisein polymermaterial designandprocessingto join our ...

Entegris

Material Characterization Scientist

Aurora, IL · On-site

$114K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Material Characterization Scientist Entegris is currently seeking a Polymer Characterization Scientist, CMP Pad to join our Materials Solutions Division R&D team. This position will be based at our ...

Entegris

Material Characterization Scientist

Aurora, IL

$114K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

In this role, you will develop and advance fundamental understanding of the mechanical and rheological behavior of polymer systems used in CMP pad materials. You will lead the development of ...

Mindlance

Senior Web Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Responsibilities : • Develop websites and Internet applications. • Use Web development technologies such as Angular 2, Polymer, Web Components, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. • Perform various ...

DS Containers

Be Seen First

Spotter Truck / Forklift Driver (CDL A REQUIRED)

Batavia, IL · On-site

$25 - $27/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

In our state-of-the-art plant in Batavia, Illinois, we produce a two-piece polymer-coated steel can - the first consumer package of its kind in the United States. Using proprietary technology ...

PeopleVeda

Node.JS Developer

Libertyville, IL

$49.75 - $64.50/hr

Applicable knowledge of web libraries and frameworks such as AngularJS, Polymer, and Closure * Familiarity with the whole web stack, including protocols and web server optimization techniques * BA in ...

PeopleVeda

Node.JS Developer

Libertyville, IL · On-site

$49.75 - $64.50/hr

Applicable knowledge of web libraries and frameworks such as AngularJS, Polymer, and Closure * Familiarity with the whole web stack, including protocols and web server optimization techniques * BA in ...

Kraft/Heinz

Sr Manager, R&D - Plastic Rigid Materials

Chicago, IL

$104K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The role includes leading the team to identify material/polymer/packaging technology solutions and research pathways, and leading proof of concept, technology scale-up, and seamless transition of ...

Kraft/Heinz

Senior R&D Manager

Chicago, IL

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The role includes leading the team to identify material/polymer/packaging technology solutions and research pathways, and leading proof of concept, technology scale-up, and seamless transition of ...

Kraft/Heinz

R&D Manager - Plastic Materials

Evanston, IL

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The role includes leading the team to identify material/polymer/packaging technology solutions and research pathways, and leading proof of concept, technology scale-up, and seamless transition of ...

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All JobsPolymer JobsPolymer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Polymer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$52.1K

$92.1K

$159.8K

How much do polymer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for polymer in Chicago, IL is $92,095.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,200.00 and $118,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 most commonly searched types of Polymer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Polymer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Polymer jobs in Chicago, IL?

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

What job categories do people searching Polymer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Polymer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Polymer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Polymer job openings:

Polymer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,095 per year, or $44.3 per hour.

Principal Polymer Engineer - CMP Pads

Entegris

Aurora, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago

Entegris rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 40 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 540 rated manufacturers

Job description

Job Title:
Principal Polymer Engineer - CMP Pads
Job Description:
The Role
Entegris is seeking a highly experienced and innovative Principal Polymer Engineer with deep expertise in polymer material design and processing to join our Materials Solutions Division R&D team. This position will be based at our Aurora (Greater Chicago Area) or Hillsboro (Portland, Oregon) facility.
In this role, you will drive the development of next-generation CMP pad technologies by creating differentiated material concepts and broadening the boundaries of current design approaches. You will work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and external partners to translate innovative designs into robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that create long-term competitive advantage.
What You'll Do
Lead material engineering and platform innovation
  • Lead the design and engineering of next-generation polymer material systems for advanced CMP applications, defining formulation strategies and material design space (composition, architecture, and process interactions) to achieve targeted performance and manufacturability.

  • Apply deep expertise in polymer science and structure-property-process relationships to develop differentiated material concepts and expand current design boundaries.

  • Translate material designs into scalable, manufacturable, and high-performance products by integrating formulation, processing, and engineering principles.

  • Utilize advanced characterization, modeling, and experimental approaches to guide design decisions and accelerate technology development.

  • Translate customer and business needs into robust technical solutions, balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, cost, and sensitivity to material and process variation.

Solve complex multidisciplinary challenges
  • Lead investigations into material, process, and product performance challenges across development and manufacturing environments.

  • Apply first-principles thinking, Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and data-driven methodologies to accelerate learning and optimize technical solutions.

  • Collaborate across R&D, manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams to resolve critical technical issues and enable successful commercialization.

Provide technical leadership
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship across multiple development programs and cross-functional initiatives.

  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders, suppliers, customers, and external partners to advance strategic technology objectives.

  • Communicate technical strategies, project outcomes, and scientific insights effectively through presentations, reports, and customer interactions.

  • Foster a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What We Seek
  • Ph.D. with 5+ years or M.S. with 8+ years of industrial experience in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related discipline.

  • Deep expertise in polymer structure-property-processing-performance relationships and their impact on product functionality, strong intuition in polymer formulation and multi-variable material design, with the ability to navigate trade-offs between performance, processability, and manufacturability

  • Demonstrated experience engineering advanced polyurethane or other high-performance polymer systems for demanding industrial applications.

  • Extensive experience with polymer processing and manufacturing technologies, including one or more of casting, molding, foaming, reactive processing, composite fabrication, or other advanced polymer manufacturing methods, with the ability to connect processing conditions to material performance.

  • Hands-on experience with polymer characterization techniques such as DMA, DSC, TGA, rheology, FTIR, microscopy, mechanical testing, or related analytical methods, and the ability to leverage characterization data to guide material design and engineering decisions.

  • Proven ability to integrate material composition, architecture, processing, and characterization to develop differentiated, scalable technologies.

  • Strong background in Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and data-driven problem solving; experience with predictive modeling or simulation is a plus.

  • Demonstrated success developing technologies from concept through scale-up and commercialization while balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.

  • Track record of technical innovation, with the ability to challenge conventional approaches and create novel engineering solutions for complex materials problems.

  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills, with experience influencing multidisciplinary teams and strategic technology direction.

  • Experience in CMP or semiconductor materials is preferred but not required. Candidates with backgrounds in advanced polymers, elastomers, composites, foams, coatings, or related high-performance material systems are encouraged to apply.

What We Offer:
At Entegris, we invest in providing opportunity to our employees and promote from within. The new hire in this role will have the potential to grow and create relationships across the organizationand be recognized for demonstrated success and adherence to company PACE values.
Our total rewards package goes above and beyond just a paycheck. Whether you're looking to build your career, improve your health, or protect your wealth, we offer generous benefits to help you achieve your goals.
  • Generous 401(K) plan with an impressive employer match

  • Excellent health, dental and vision insurance packages to fit your needs

  • Flexible work schedule and 11 paid holidays a year

  • Paid time off (PTO) policy that empowers you to take the time you need to recharge

  • Education assistance to support your learning journey

  • Values-driven culture with colleagues that rally around People, Accountability, Creativity and Excellence.

Compensation: $140,000-$186,500, dependent on candidate skillset and experience.
At Entegris we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants. Our policy is to recruit, hire, train, and reward employees for their individual abilities, achievements and experience without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital or military status.

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