At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you’ll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers.

We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. As a Sr. Associate II, Materials and Chemical Science supporting, Research and Design. The Sr. Associate II, Chemical Science (Science/Tech/Engineering Path), is primarily responsible for supporting customer business through innovative science and solutions. You will lead complex projects, provide technical direction, and offer expert advice to drive problem-solving and innovation.

You will be part of a close-knit, multidisciplinary group of chemists, engineers, and materials scientists developing the next generation of materials for accommodating intraocular lenses and other breakthrough ophthalmic applications. Our site functions as a fully integrated R&D design center, bringing together mechanical, chemical, biomedical, and manufacturing expertise to move products from early concepts to human clinical studies. Success in this environment demands both deep technical mastery as well as learning agility and a cross-functional mindset.

This role is in Belmont, CA and a typical day would include:

Drive innovation and provide scientific leadership to support customer-focused business objectives within the pharmaceutical, chemical, or materials science industries.Lead and manage major, high-complexity projects requiring advanced chemical science principles, including novel approaches to materials development, chemical synthesis, and process optimization.Provide expert technical guidance, mentor teams, and offer strategic direction on critical scientific challenges while proposing alternative solutions to enhance product efficacy, performance, and cost-effectiveness.Navigate intricate, high-impact scientific issues independently, ensuring projects align with both technical and business goals.Foster a culture of collaboration and innovation, contributing to breakthrough advancements in chemical solutions that drive long-term value for customers and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

Polymer Chemistry

Design and synthesis of acrylic / methacrylate homopolymers, copolymers, and networks.Formulation and characterization of medical-grade silicone elastomers and acrylic-siloxane hybrids including experience with relevant synthesis.Designing materials by tuning cross-linking density, modulus, optical properties, and surface modification for medical-device applications.Experience with inert-atmosphere and sensitive chemical operations such as Schlenk-line and glovebox techniques for air and moisture sensitive reactions.

Materials Science

Demonstrated experience in developing structure-property relationships and identifying levers to tune material properties within constrained systems.Mechanical and thermal characterization of polymers and elastomers.Chemical structure and identification techniques including chromatography and spectroscopy.Structural characterization of materials by optical, confocal, and electron microscopy.

Medical Device & Product Development

Failure analysis, root-cause identification, and analysis-of-unknowns by integration of complimentary analysis techniques into structures problem-solving frameworks.Advanced data analysis to automate data ingestion and reporting (e.g., via Python, SQL, Minitab, JMP, Alteryx, Tableau).Demonstrated experience in cross-functional mentorship & influence, elevating laboratory and manufacturing processes, and facilitating collaborative problem-solving across teams.

What You'll Bring to Alcon:

Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +10 yrs; Assoc.+6 yrs; M.S.+0 yrs)The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English2 Years of Relevant Experience

How You Can Thrive at Alcon:

Join Alcon’s mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off, and much more!Travel Requirements: Up to 10%

Alcon Careers

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Total Rewards

Alcon’s Total Rewards programs are designed to align to incentives with business goals, encourage the right values and behaviors, and deliver long-term value.  The first layer of our rewards program is compensation.  We offer a combination of fixed pay and variable pay, which includes short-term incentives, and long-term incentives for eligible population.  Our benefits program provides security for life events through life and disability insurance, supports savings for retirement, promotes good health and well-being and supports associates and their families during times of illness.  To learn more about Alcon’s Corporate Social Responsibility including our Total Rewards, click here

  

Pay Range

$88,000.00 - $132,000.00

  

Pay Frequency

Annual

  

Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.