Senior Chemist/ Engineer

ChampionX•Sugar Land, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Senior Chemist/ Engineer to support Pilot Plant operations in Sugar Land. This role plays a critical part in scaling new technologies from laboratory development to full-scale production. The successful candidate will combine hands-on chemistry, quality assurance experience, pilot plant operational support and project management to ensure product quality, process reliability, and safe execution of scale-up activities.

Requirements

BS in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering or related field with three years of relevant work experience or MS with two years of relevant work experience
Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation and analytical techniques
Experience with quality control processes and data management
Familiarity with quality management systems or software
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Commitment to safety and operational excellence
Strong ownership of quality systems and data integrity
Proactive troubleshooting and continuous improvement mindset
Effective collaboration across technical and operational teams
Ability to bridge bench level chemistry with pilot plant and full-scale operations
Situational Adaptability

Nice To Haves

Experience in a pilot plant, process development, or scale-up environment
Knowledge of SAP for quality data management
Exposure to chemical processing techniques such as blend or reaction chemistry scale-up
Understanding of process safety and industrial chemical handling practices

Responsibilities

Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of product quality control specifications, processes and procedures in collaboration with both RD&E and Pilot Plant process chemists and engineers
Manage and maintain quality data in SAP, including data entry and validation, generating reports, and performance tracking
Conduct chemical and physical analyses of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products to ensure compliance with internal quality specifications and regulatory standards during scale-up and production trials
Support pilot plant operations, including lab-scale and pilot-scale processes to transfer new products to a manufacturing plant for full-scale production
Evaluate incoming blend and reaction chemistry requests to identify and close gaps in raw material and/or intermediate availability at the pilot Plant utilizing SAP to set up and order these materials
Collaborate with process chemists and engineering teams to translate lab-scale chemistry into scalable and reproducible processes
Assess process engineering requirements for incoming blend and reaction chemistry requests to determine the feasibility of Pilot Plant support
Communicate with a variety of internal stakeholders (Sales, Marketing, Research, Supply Chain/ Manufacturing) to understand their needs and identify solutions
Communicate technical findings, data trends, and recommendations effectively through reports, presentations and recommended manufacturing procedures
Maintain laboratory and pilot plant instrumentation through proper calibration, maintenance, and safe operation of analytical and process equipment to ensure reliability and readiness
Identify opportunities for process optimization and operational improvement
Adhere to all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, promoting a strong safety culture
Partner with corporate functions (RD&E, Supply Chain, Quality, and SHE teams) to investigate and resolve product quality and scale-up challenges
Participate in risk assessments, process safety reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives
Stay current with industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in both quality and process development
Work at times under limited supervision and lead projects with limited scope and complexity