Principal, Research and Technology Development - Chemistry & Chemical

Baker Hughes Holdings LLC; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker Hughes Holdings LLC is seeking a Paraffin and Asphaltene Principal Scientist to lead product development for wax and asphaltene control in upstream chemicals. You will design experiments, interpret results, and translate customer needs into actionable technology strategies.

The role requires deep expertise in organic solids control, production chemistry, and lab evaluation, with strong collaboration across R&D, product management, and regional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or related technical discipline.
• Experience in paraffin/wax and asphaltene control and organic deposition.
• Experience developing paraffin inhibitors, pour point depressants, or solvent/remediation products.
• Strong laboratory background designing experiments and test methods.
• Ability to connect crude oil behavior to product performance.
• Ability to work independently and mentor teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead paraffin and asphaltene product development from concept to commercialization support.
• Develop, improve, and standardize lab test methods for inhibitors, solvents, and remediation chemistries.
• Design and interpret laboratory studies linking crude oil behavior to product performance.
• Serve as principal technical authority for paraffin and asphaltene technologies and testing strategy.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to translate feedback into development priorities.
• Contribute to IP, publications, and internal knowledge transfer.

Skills

Paraffin/wax control

Asphaltene control

Organic solids control

Laboratory testing

Test method development

Customer engagement

R&D collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry / Chemical Engineering / Petroleum Engineering / Materials Science / Polymer Science

Job description

Paraffin and Asphaltene Principal Scientist - Upstream Chemicals

Are you passionate about developing innovative chemical solutions to solve complex flow assurance and organic solids challenges?

Do you thrive on combining scientific expertise, laboratory innovation, and customer engagement to deliver impactful production chemistry solutions?

Partner with the best

As a Paraffin and Asphaltene Principal Scientist, you will develop, evaluate, and advance chemical solutions for wax and asphaltene control while serving as a technical authority for product development and laboratory testing. This role requires strong customer-facing technical engagement, including listening to the voice of the customer, understanding production challenges, and translating customer needs into product performance requirements, testing strategies, and practical technology solutions. The successful candidate will help drive customer satisfaction by connecting technical expertise, laboratory performance, and field‑relevant recommendations to measurable customer outcomes.

Fueling your passion

To be successful in this role, you will bring deep technical expertise in organic solids control, production chemistry, chemical formulation, and laboratory product evaluation, along with the ability to engage customers from a technical perspective. 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.

As a Paraffin and Asphaltene Principal Scientist, you will be responsible for:

• Leading paraffin and asphaltene product development from concept through formulation, screening, qualification, and commercialization support.

• Developing, improve, and standardize laboratory test methods for paraffin inhibitors, pour point depressants, asphaltene inhibitors, dispersants, solvents, and remediation chemistries.

• Designing and interpret 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.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Have 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.

• Have experience developing, screening, qualifying, or improving paraffin inhibitors, pour point depressants, asphaltene inhibitors, asphaltene dispersants, or solvent/remediation products.

• Have strong laboratory background, including experience designing experiments, developing test methods, interpreting results, and documenting technical conclusions.

• Have ability to connect crude oil behavior, deposit characteristics, chemical structure, formulation design, and product performance.

• Have ability to work independently as a principal technical expert while collaborating across R&D, product management, technical support, and regional teams.

• Have experience engaging with customers or technical stakeholders to understand performance needs, communicate technical recommendations, and support customer satisfaction through technical problem solving.

• Have strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical findings clearly and defend recommendations with data.

Desired:

• Have 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

• Have deep expertise in wax crystallization, paraffin deposition, pour point depression, asphaltene stability, asphaltene deposition, dispersancy, solvency, or organic solids remediation.

• Have 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.

• Have experience developing products for deepwater, subsea, offshore, winterized, high‑pressure, high‑temperature, or environmentally sensitive applications.

• Have experience translating laboratory performance into field‑relevant recommendations, product qualification plans, or commercialization decisions.

• Have Knowledge of upstream chemical application methods, treatment program design, field trial support, or regional technical support needs.

• Have 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

Work in a way that works for you

We recognize that everyone is different and that the way in which people want to work and deliver at their best is different for everyone too. In this role, we can offer the following flexible working patterns:

This role is working with our customer on‑site. When onsite, you will have the flexibility to work in line with customer working patterns.

Working with us

Our people are at the heart of what we do at Baker Hughes. We know we are better when all of our people are developed, engaged and able to bring their whole authentic selves to work. We invest in the health and well‑being of our workforce, train and reward talent and develop leaders at all levels to bring out the best in each other.

Working for you

Our inventions have revolutionized energy for over a century. But to keep going forward tomorrow, we know we have to push the boundaries today. We prioritize rewarding those who embrace change with a package that reflects how much we value their input.

What You Can Expect

• 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
  

This position requires valid work authorization in the country of employment. The employer is unable to sponsor work authorization for this role at any time.

You will be eligible to participate in Company-sponsored benefit programs, including health & welfare programs and the Thrift Plan (401k). You will have a choice of coverage options that best suit your needs. Coverage options and contribution amounts are related to your benefit elections, base salary level, and specific requirements of each of these plans.

This position is eligible for our comprehensive and competitive benefits package, which can be found here, and is further eligible for additional forms of compensation such as bonuses subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plans or policies.

The Baker Hughes internal title for this role is: Principal, Chemistry & Chemical, Research and Technology Development

About Us:

We are an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward - making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet.

Join Us:

Are you seeking an opportunity to make a real difference in a company that values innovation and progress? Join us and become part of a team of people who will challenge and inspire you! Let's come together and take energy forward.
Baker Hughes Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.