Technology Development Manager - US

Lubrizol Corporation•Wickliffe, OH

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Technology Development Manager leads strategic research and development projects focused on the innovation, development, and commercialization of refrigeration compressor lubricants. The role advances next-generation lubricant technologies to address evolving industry requirements, including equipment reliability, durability, environmental sustainability, and compatibility with emerging refrigerants and compressor systems. Responsibilities include conducting fundamental research, leading new product development programs, optimizing existing formulations, and translating technical insights into commercially viable solutions. The manager works with Product Management, Sales, OEM Management, Regulatory, Process Technology, Synthesis, and External Manufacturing teams to meet business objectives and customer needs. The role also provides subject-matter expertise, identifies technology trends and innovation opportunities, and aligns product development strategies with customer requirements and long-term business goals.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Chemistry or a related field and 8+ years of experience in refrigeration lubricants; or M.S. in Chemistry or a related field and 10+ years of experience; or B.S. in Chemistry or a related field and 12+ years of experience.
Expertise in refrigeration lubricant research and development, including base oil selection, additive technology, and performance evaluation through laboratory and application testing.
Experience supporting OEM qualification programs through experimental design, technical data generation, performance validation, and resolution of application-specific challenges.
Knowledge of tribology principles and experience using tribological testing methods to evaluate lubricant performance and wear characteristics.
Working knowledge of thermodynamic modeling and simulation of gas/liquid refrigeration systems.
Understanding of phase behavior and equations of state, and their application to refrigerant and lubricant system design, performance modeling, and analysis.
Project management skills, including project planning, budget management, milestone tracking, risk assessment, resource coordination, and concise reporting of status, timelines, and deliverables.
Technical communication and presentation skills, including the ability to translate complex scientific and engineering concepts into clear, actionable information for diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of lubricant synthesis, formulation development, and structure-property relationships.

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject matter expert for refrigeration compressor lubricants, providing technical leadership in product development, formulation optimization, performance evaluation, and resolution of technical challenges while meeting OEM specifications, industry standards, and application requirements.
Lead lubricant formulation design and optimization by evaluating refrigerant-lubricant structure-property relationships, including miscibility, solubility, chemical stability, tribological behavior, and additive effectiveness; validate performance through laboratory and application testing.
Collaborate with Synthesis, Process Technology, and External Manufacturing teams to advance lubricant platforms and manage product development from concept through scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturing implementation, and commercialization.
Work with Commercial and OEM Management teams to understand customer requirements, market needs, and business objectives, translating them into lubricant technologies and product development programs.
Lead R&D projects through the Stage Gate process, including project planning, budgeting, milestone execution, gate reviews, risk management, technical documentation, data management, and cross-functional collaboration.
Maintain understanding of the intellectual property landscape and technical literature to identify innovation opportunities, support technology strategy, and guide product development.
Support OEM qualification programs through experimental design, technical data generation, performance validation, and resolution of application-specific challenges.