Principal Scientist (Business & Operations Support) Job

​Primary location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania 
Relocation offered: No 
Employment status: Full-Time 
Travel: 11%-25% 
Non-compete: No 
Location:  Lancaster, Pennsylvania 

The estimated base salary range for this role is “$103,000 to $125,000” per year.  
Individual pay is based upon location, skills and expertise, experience and other relevant factors (salary may be adjusted based on geographic location)

​What does it mean to work at Armstrong?

It means being immersed in a supportive culture that recognizes you as a key player in Armstrong's future. We are a large company with a local feel, where you will get to know and collaborate with leadership and your colleagues across the company.

By joining us, you'll have the opportunity to make the most of your potential. Alongside a competitive remuneration package, you will receive:

A benefits package including: medical, dental, prescription drug, life insurance, 401k match, long-term disability coverage, vacation and sick time, product discount programs and many more.
Personal development to grow your career with us based on your strengths and interests.
A working culture that balances individual achievement with teamwork and collaboration. We draw on each other's strengths and allow for different work styles to build engagement and satisfaction to deliver results. 
 

What’s in it for you?

• High-impact, cross-functional role driving quality, productivity, and innovation across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Opportunities for leadership in cost reduction, process improvement, and new product development initiatives.
• Professional growth through collaboration with sales, marketing, operations, and by mentoring new engineers

What will you do?

• Provide support to manufacturing sites as requested through the business support process, including consultation with production personnel, designing/evaluating laboratory and plant tests, analyzing results and recommending corrective action, and following through on recommendations to evaluate their effectiveness

• Collaborate with manufacturing plants in the planning and implementation of productivity efforts at the plant sites
• Lead cost reduction, raw material replacement, certain types of new product development and quality projects at single manufacturing sites and/or across the manufacturing network
• Proactively work with the sales and marketing team to identify proactive quality improvement opportunities then collaborate with manufacturing to execute agreed upon quality improvement opportunities
• Identify opportunities to integrate technical work related to quality, productivity, applied innovation and new product development
• Lead the development proactive leading metrics that avoid problems before they start
• Participate in Lean efforts
• Share key learning and best practices with the organization
• Conduct training sessions for new Process Engineers

Travel:  Up to 35%

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science, Physics, or related disciplines
• 4+ years applicable work experience
• Experience in mineral fiber ceilings, paper manufacturing or coatings
• Prior experience in quality systems
• Diverse experience in process engineering, operations leadership or corporate technical support roles
• Previous experience in wet felt manufacturing operations

What will make you successful?

• Experience cultivating productivity in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to apply technical knowledge in a manufacturing environment
• Written and verbal communication skills from the shop floor to executive leadership
• Self-starter with excellent analytical skills and abilities

Physical and Mental Demands

•  The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:  sit for prolonged periods; repetitive motion of hands/wrists/fingers; concentrate and repeat the same physical or mental activities over and over; think analytically and be exact or highly accurate; make decisions such as to identify complex problems, develop options and implement solutions; work in a team; ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADAAA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards; pay attention to and remember details; communicate effectively including active listening to understand points being made, and asking appropriate questions and not interrupting inappropriately; speak to convey information effectively; write to communicate effectively as appropriate for the needs of the audience; read to understand work related documents; move between different physical locations within and between buildings; and push, pull, carry and lift in the normal course of travel.

Work Environment

•  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Requires working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions with standard level of noise common to an office environment including office equipment and co-workers speaking to each other and on phones.  Employees are required to wear personal protective equipment when entering the floor of manufacturing facilities based on the specific requirements of each location.

Why should you join Armstrong World Industries?

Armstrong World Industries (AWI) is an Americas leader in the design and manufacture of innovative interior and exterior architectural applications including ceilings, specialty walls and exterior metal solutions. With approximately $1.4 billion in revenue, AWI has about 3,700 employees and a manufacturing network of 21 facilities in North America.

At home, at work, in healthcare facilities, classrooms, stores, or restaurants, we offer interior solutions that help to enhance comfort, save time, improve building efficiency and overall performance, and create beautiful spaces.

For more than 160 years, we have built our business on trust and integrity. It set us apart then, and it sets us apart now, along with our ability to collaborate with and innovate for the people we're here to serve - our customers, our shareholders, our communities and our employees.

We are committed to developing new and sustainable architectural solutions, with design and performance possibilities that make a positive difference in spaces where we live, work, learn, heal and play. It's an exciting, rewarding business to be in, and we're committed to continue to grow and prosper for the benefit of all of our stakeholders. We hope you join us.

Our Sustainability Ambition

"Bringing our Purpose to Life" - lead a transformation in the design and building of spaces fit for today and tomorrow.
We are committed to:

• Engaging a diverse, purpose-driven workforce;
• Transforming buildings from structures that shelter into structures that serve and preserve the health and well-being of people and planet;
• Pursuing sustainable, innovative solutions for spaces where we live, work, learn heal and play;
• Being a catalyst for change with all of our stakeholders; and
• Making a positive difference in the environments and communities we impact.

About the location (Lancaster PA)

Lancaster, PA. A great central location in South Central Pennsylvania, Lancaster is ideally situated for easy access to major metropolitan cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, and New York City. Lancaster offers a vibrant arts and entertainment community with wonderful historic sites, B&Bs, museums, great shopping, entertainment venues and restaurants.

Armstrong is committed to engaging a diverse, purpose-driven workforce.  As part of our dedication to diversity, AWI is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard for race, sex, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at by email at AWI talent acquisition and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Come and build your future with us and apply today!