Principal Chemist

ChampionX•Sugar Land, TX

82d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Chemist to join our Production Maximization team in Sugar Land, Texas. In this role, you will provide technical leadership for a global portfolio of production chemistry technologies designed to maximize oil and gas production. You will lead the development and advancement of chemistry solutions for phase separation, water clarification, emulsion resolution, and flow improvement—helping customers improve asset performance, production efficiency, and overall operational reliability. The ideal candidate brings the ability to turn complex technical challenges into practical, customer-focused solutions. You are an effective communicator, a collaborative partner, and a scientist who thrives in a dynamic, hands-on environment. If you are passionate about translating chemistry into field-ready production solutions, we encourage you to apply. This is an opportunity to join a growing organization where you can lead innovation, influence product strategy, and deliver measurable value to customers across the energy industry.

Requirements

Degree in Chemistry or a related technical field: Ph.D. or M.S. with 2 years of relevant experience, or B.S. with 4 years of relevant experience.
Experience in synthetic chemistry, surface science, or polymer or small-molecule development, supported by strong analytical and characterization capabilities.
Understanding structure-property-performance relationships and the ability to apply that knowledge to practical production chemistry challenges.
Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret incomplete data, make sound technical judgments, and drive decisions forward.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Chemistry or a related technical field: Ph.D. or M.S. with 3+ years of relevant experience, or B.S. with 5+ years of relevant experience.
Proven ability to engage with customers, identify technical needs, and translate those needs into differentiated production chemistry solutions.
Experience scaling products from laboratory development to pilot and full production, including close collaboration with manufacturing and operations teams.
Experience with Design of Experiments, data analytics, or statistical tools to accelerate formulation development and optimize performance is a plus.
Strong attention to detail, sound prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across technical, operational, customer, and leadership audiences.

Responsibilities

Champion a strong safety culture by upholding company standards, promoting best practices, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
Lead theoretical and applied research to solve complex production chemistry challenges related to phase separation, emulsion treatment, water clarification, and flow improvement.
Drive strategic technology and product development projects with global relevance and meaningful impact on the business.
Design and optimize innovative production chemistry formulations that address customer needs and improve field performance.
Develop and refine laboratory test methods, screening protocols, and application approaches to evaluate product performance and support successful technology deployment.
Interpret experimental and field data, generate actionable insights, and communicate findings through clear technical reports and presentations.
Advance continuous improvement across products, processes, and technical workflows to support responsible energy production and long-term business growth.
Collaborate across R&D, applications, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial teams to move technologies from concept through field adoption.