Chemical Systems Engineer

Primary Talent Partners; Columbus (IN); On-site; USD 68,880 - 75,768; Full time

Job summary

Primary Talent Partners has a 12-month contract opening for a Chemical Systems Engineer to join a motor generator manufacturing company. This onsite position in Columbus, IN offers a pay rate of $50.00 to $55.00 per hour and involves R&D activities focused on advanced emissions control technologies.

The candidate will apply knowledge in catalysis and reaction engineering, conduct tests, and ensure effective communication within research teams. Qualifications include a Ph.D. in a related field and strong expertise in chemical kinetics.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in chemical kinetics and reaction engineering principles.
• Knowledge of engine emissions control technologies, especially SCR systems.
• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Owns problem resolution for chemical systems with moderate complexity.
• Tests and analyzes chemical systems for various properties.
• Communicates effectively with stakeholders to drive organizational decisions.

Skills

Chemical kinetics

Heterogeneous catalysis

Analysis and problem-solving

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Electron microscopy

Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD)

X-ray diffraction (XRD)

Job description

Primary Talent Partners has a 12‑month contract opening for a Chemical Systems Engineer to join a national motor and generator manufacturing company. The position is onsite in Columbus, IN, with a pay rate of $50.00 to $55.00 per hour. The contract lasts 12 months, with extensions likely and conversion possible. The role is a W‑2 position; C2C and visa sponsorship are not supported. Employees will work onsite five days per week.

Summary

We are looking for a highly motivated Chemical Engineer to join our Advanced Chemical Systems and Integration (ACSI) team within Cummins Research and Technology (R&T) on a 12‑month contract. This position will support research and development activities focused on chemical reaction systems for advanced emissions control technologies. It offers the opportunity to apply foundational knowledge in catalysis and reaction engineering to address real‑world challenges in clean engine technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Owns problem resolution for moderately complex components, products, systems, subsystems or services with technical complexity and ambiguity increasing as experience is gained in the role.
• Provides independent execution of established work processes and systems, while still developing technology or product knowledge; engages with the improvement of systems and processes.
• Involves minimal direct management of people, but may coordinate and direct work among technicians and/or interns.
• Contributes effectively toward team goals, exhibits influence within a work group and continues to develop proficiency in the competency areas critical to success in the role.
• Accelerated Aging Testing and Analysis of Chemical Systems—designs and constructs laboratory equipment to simulate various aging exposures relevant to practical applications of active chemical components, including thermal cycling, chemical poisoning, and physical masking.
• Characterization of Chemical Systems—designs and conducts tests of physicochemical properties, such as morphology, acid‑base and redox properties, diffusion characteristics, impedance behaviors, solubility, and chemical poisoning, to aid in diagnostics and prediction of performance and health of chemically active components.
• Chemical Performance Testing—designs tests measuring chemical transformation of species, selectivity, and response to chemical and physical environments to determine performance, durability, or state of health of chemically active components; interprets test data to influence hardware and controls design decisions and to provide information for computational tools development.
• Collaborates—builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates effectively—develops and delivers multi‑mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Decision quality—makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Drives results—consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances.
• Self‑development—actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels.
• Values differences—recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Systems Thinking—defines the system of interest by drawing the boundaries, identifying its context within its environment, its interfaces, and its lifecycle to aid in planning the problem statement, scope, and deliverables; analyzes linkages and interactions between elements that comprise the system of interest by using appropriate methods, models and integration of outcomes to understand the system, predict its behavior and devise modifications to it in order to produce the desired effects.
• Technical Documentation—documents information based on knowledge gained as part of technical function activities; communicates to stakeholders with the goal of enabling improved technical productivity and effective knowledge transfer to others who were not originally part of the initial learning.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Strong expertise in chemical kinetics, heterogeneous catalysis, and reaction engineering principles.
• Knowledge of engine emissions control technologies, with particular emphasis on Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary research teams.

Experience

• Demonstrated success conducting research in academic, industrial, or government laboratory environments.
• Hands‑on experience operating laboratory‑scale catalytic reactors, preferably monolithic and/or packed‑bed flow reactor systems.
• Experience in reactor design, construction, and experimental setup is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with catalyst characterization techniques, including but not limited to electron microscopy, BET surface area analysis, temperature‑programmed desorption (TPD), temperature‑programmed reduction (TPR), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, and X‑ray diffraction (XRD).
• Strong track record of critical thinking, data analysis, technical reporting, and scientific documentation.

Primary Talent Partners is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.