Entry Level R&D Project Manager Jobs
New grad r&d project manager jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong internship background or hands-on portfolio in product development can carry more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings mix on-site and hybrid settings across Medical Devices, Electronics & Hardware, and Manufacturing, with employers like Nokia, Pace Analytical Services, and Delta Electronics (Americas) hiring at this level now.
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INTRODUCTION
At Avient, our people power our performance. As a Research & Development Chemist, you will develop and support textile screen printing inks within Avient's Specialty Inks Materials Development Team. This hands-on role focuses primarily on water-based ink and coating technologies while also supporting plastisol product development, manufacturing, quality, and commercialization activities. The position works closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products that meet customer and business needs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and optimize water-based textile screen printing inks and related coating technologies
- Conduct laboratory formulation, testing, and evaluation of new and existing products
- Support product maintenance, raw material qualification, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Technical Service, Marketing, and Product Management on development projects
- Analyze technical data and communicate results through reports and presentations
- Support pilot trials, scale-up activities, and commercial product launches
- Engage with suppliers to evaluate new raw materials and emerging technologies
- Maintain accurate laboratory records and a safe working environment
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline
- Minimum 2 years of formulation experience in water-based textile screen printing inks, water-based coatings, textile coatings, graphic arts coatings, or similar aqueous systems
- Experience conducting hands-on product development and laboratory testing
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with textile screen printing applications
- Experience with pigment dispersions, rheology modifiers, acrylics, polyurethane dispersions, or related coating technologies
- Familiarity with plastisol inks
- Knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, or Minitab
- Experience with analytical and physical testing equipment such as rheometers, FTIR, DSC, and color measurement systems
WHY AVIENT
- Visible impact across multiple sites and businesses
- Strong partnership with business and enterprise leadership
- Opportunity to lead change
- Growth-focused culture that values innovation, collaboration, and accountability
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities may require close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Requires the use of safety equipment as dictated by the work area such as safety glasses and shoes, dust mask, hard hat, respirator, face shield, hearing protection, chemical suit, gloves, aprons, etc. Work is inside and the typical noise level is loud. Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is frequently exposed to vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock.
CA-KV
Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.
Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient.
Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!
We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.
By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.
At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.
INTRODUCTION
At Avient, our people power our performance. As a Research & Development Chemist, you will develop and support textile screen printing inks within Avient's Specialty Inks Materials Development Team. This hands-on role focuses primarily on water-based ink and coating technologies while also supporting plastisol product development, manufacturing, quality, and commercialization activities. The position works closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products that meet customer and business needs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and optimize water-based textile screen printing inks and related coating technologies
- Conduct laboratory formulation, testing, and evaluation of new and existing products
- Support product maintenance, raw material qualification, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Technical Service, Marketing, and Product Management on development projects
- Analyze technical data and communicate results through reports and presentations
- Support pilot trials, scale-up activities, and commercial product launches
- Engage with suppliers to evaluate new raw materials and emerging technologies
- Maintain accurate laboratory records and a safe working environment
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline
- Minimum 2 years of formulation experience in water-based textile screen printing inks, water-based coatings, textile coatings, graphic arts coatings, or similar aqueous systems
- Experience conducting hands-on product development and laboratory testing
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with textile screen printing applications
- Experience with pigment dispersions, rheology modifiers, acrylics, polyurethane dispersions, or related coating technologies
- Familiarity with plastisol inks
- Knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, or Minitab
- Experience with analytical and physical testing equipment such as rheometers, FTIR, DSC, and color measurement systems
WHY AVIENT
- Visible impact across multiple sites and businesses
- Strong partnership with business and enterprise leadership
- Opportunity to lead change
- Growth-focused culture that values innovation, collaboration, and accountability
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities may require close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Requires the use of safety equipment as dictated by the work area such as safety glasses and shoes, dust mask, hard hat, respirator, face shield, hearing protection, chemical suit, gloves, aprons, etc. Work is inside and the typical noise level is loud. Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles. The employee is frequently exposed to vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock.
CA-KV
Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.
Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient.
Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!
We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.
By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.
At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Medical Devices
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Science & Research
Entry Level R&D Project Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level r&d project manager job?
Entry level r&d project manager roles reward candidates who can show hands-on project coordination experience, even from internships, lab work, or academic research. Familiarity with project management tools like Jira, Asana, or Microsoft Project gives you a clear edge. Employers at this level also value strong communication skills and the ability to track timelines and deliverables, so highlight any cross-functional collaboration you have done, no matter the setting.
Which companies hire entry level r&d project managers?
Companies hiring entry level r&d project managers right now include Nokia, Pace Analytical Services, and Delta Electronics (Americas), based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a broad range of employers, including large corporations with structured new-grad programs, mid-size product companies scaling their R&D teams, and contract research organizations that regularly bring on junior project coordinators.
Are there remote entry level r&d project manager jobs?
Yes, though on-site roles remain common in R&D due to lab and team collaboration needs. About 17% of entry level r&d project manager openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, so options do exist for candidates who need flexibility. Hybrid arrangements are especially common at technology and pharmaceutical companies, where project coordination work can often be split between home and the office.
Are these new grad r&d project manager jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior r&d project manager roles. A new-grad-friendly posting typically welcomes zero to two years of experience and counts internships, co-op placements, academic research projects, or a strong portfolio as qualifying background. If a posting asks for a degree in engineering, science, or business and does not require prior full-time R&D management experience, it is generally open to new grads.
Which industries hire the most entry level r&d project managers?
Entry Level r&d project manager roles concentrate in Medical Devices, Electronics & Hardware, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they run continuous product development and innovation cycles that require organized, detail-oriented junior project managers to coordinate timelines, manage documentation, and support senior R&D leads.