Principal Scientist

The Principal Scientist serves as a subject matter expert and technical leader, driving innovation and high-impact research and development initiatives across dental chemical consumables. This role identifies and evaluates emerging technologies, translates them into commercially viable products, and leads complex experimental design and execution to validate product performance, reliability, and shelf life. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Principal Scientist leads new product development and lifecycle management efforts, contributes to strategic roadmap planning, and ensures adherence to design control, risk management, and quality standards. Additionally, the role mentors junior scientists, fosters continuous improvement in laboratory practices, and represents R&D in cross-functional activities to support successful product launches and sustained product excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively seeks new technologies, and product features as part of innovation activities for the assigned product category and other dental chemical consumables products that could translate into new product offering.
• Creates research activities outline (design of experiments) and schedules according to company’s timetable and establishes daily or weekly routines necessary to meet project timetable.
• Exhibits deep knowledge and understanding (Subject Matter Expert /SME) of the assigned category and at least two adjacent categories.
• Provides input and support in the planning strategic roadmap across all product categories.
• Independently leads R&D activities as part of design control/design change project within assigned or adjacent product categories.
• Leads and/or executes experiments that scientifically confirm product performance, reliability, and shelf life.
• Leads NPD feasibility work and provide support on sustaining project at high complexity.
• Expected to participate with significant contribution in at least a combination of four product launches and/or life-cycle management (sustaining) projects with high impact/complexity level or applied innovation of at least one new technology platform in commercial product.
• Maintains proficiency in NPD tollgate and design change to independently prepare and execute activities (example: test methods, design verification protocol and report, ECR memo, etc.)
• Represents R&D in product risk management activities (documentation of risk identification, mitigation verification, etc.)
• Applies good laboratory practices.
• Identifies deficiencies and modifies/improves existing procedures.
• Applies scientific theory to reach conclusions based on data analysis.
• Provides mentoring/coaching to research associates, research chemists, and junior scientists.
• Complies with all company policies and procedures including quality, complaint handling, and safety.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.