Principal, Research and Technology Development - Chemistry & Chemical

Baker Hughes•Sugar Land, TX

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Paraffin and Asphaltene Principal Scientist – Upstream Chemicals. This role involves developing innovative chemical solutions for complex flow assurance and organic solids challenges. The scientist will combine scientific expertise, laboratory innovation, and customer engagement to deliver impactful production chemistry solutions. The role requires developing, evaluating, and advancing chemical solutions for wax and asphaltene control, serving as a technical authority for product development and laboratory testing. Strong customer-facing technical engagement is essential, including understanding customer needs, translating them into product performance requirements, testing strategies, and practical technology solutions. The successful candidate will drive customer satisfaction by connecting technical expertise, laboratory performance, and field-relevant recommendations to measurable customer outcomes. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on principal technical expert who can design experiments, understand mechanisms, develop products, improve test methods, listen to customer needs, and influence technology direction through strong scientific judgment and customer-focused technical performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related technical discipline with significant relevant experience in oilfield chemicals, organic solids control, product development, or laboratory testing.
Demonstrates technical experience in paraffin/wax control, asphaltene control, organic deposition, crude oil characterization, or production chemical product development.
Experience developing, screening, qualifying, or improving paraffin inhibitors, pour point depressants, asphaltene inhibitors, asphaltene dispersants, or solvent/remediation products.
Strong laboratory background, including experience designing experiments, developing test methods, interpreting results, and documenting technical conclusions.
Ability to connect crude oil behavior, deposit characteristics, chemical structure, formulation design, and product performance.
Ability to work independently as a principal technical expert while collaborating across R&D, product management, technical support, and regional teams.
Experience engaging with customers or technical stakeholders to understand performance needs, communicate technical recommendations, and support customer satisfaction through technical problem solving.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical findings clearly and defend recommendations with data.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree, such as an M.S. or Ph.D., in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or a related technical field
Deep expertise in wax crystallization, paraffin deposition, pour point depression, asphaltene stability, asphaltene deposition, dispersancy, solvency, or organic solids remediation.
Experience with laboratory methods such as cold finger testing, rheology, pour point testing, wax appearance temperature evaluation, asphaltene stability testing, deposition testing, centrifuge methods, high-pressure testing, or deposit characterization.
Experience developing products for deepwater, subsea, offshore, winterized, high-pressure, high-temperature, or environmentally sensitive applications.
Experience translating laboratory performance into field-relevant recommendations, product qualification plans, or commercialization decisions.
Knowledge of upstream chemical application methods, treatment program design, field trial support, or regional technical support needs.
Experience contributing to patents, peer-reviewed publications, technical papers, conference presentations, internal standards, or technical training.
Demonstrated ability to mentor scientists and technologists and influence technology direction across a matrixed global organization

Responsibilities

Leading paraffin and asphaltene product development from concept through formulation, screening, qualification, and commercialization support.
Developing, improving, and standardizing laboratory test methods for paraffin inhibitors, pour point depressants, asphaltene inhibitors, dispersants, solvents, and remediation chemistries.
Designing and interpreting rigorous laboratory studies that connect crude oil behavior, deposit characteristics, chemical structure, formulation design, and product performance.
Serving as a principal technical authority for paraffin and asphaltene technologies, including testing strategy, performance interpretation, technical recommendations, and technology direction.
Engaging directly with customers and internal stakeholders to understand production challenges, capture voice-of-customer needs, and translate feedback into product development priorities that improve customer satisfaction.
Contributing to intellectual property, technical publications, internal reports, test procedures, knowledge transfer, and technical training for paraffin and asphaltene technologies.

Benefits

Contemporary work-life balance policies and wellbeing activities
Comprehensive private medical care options
Safety net of life insurance and disability programs
Tailored financial programs
Education Assistance
Generous Parental Leave
Mental Health resources, Virtual Therapy Programs
Dependent and Partners Care
Pet Insurance
Additional elected or voluntary benefits
Company-sponsored benefit programs, including health & welfare programs and the Thrift Plan (401k).
Choice of coverage options that best suit your needs.
Comprehensive and competitive benefits package.
Additional forms of compensation such as bonuses subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plans or policies.