R&D Engineer

W. R. Grace; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 122,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Life Insurance and Disability

Grace Wellness Program

Flexible Workplace with core hours

Retirement Plans

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation and Holidays

Parental Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Company Donation Match Program

Job summary

Grace, a leading global supplier of catalysts and fine chemicals, seeks an R&D Engineer for the Refining Catalysts Catalyst Evaluation R&D team in Columbia, MD. You will lead lab activities, drive projects, and support customers with technical solutions.

The role requires a PhD or MS in Chemical Engineering with hands-on lab experience and strong communication skills. Occasional travel is expected as part of the position.

Qualifications

• PhD or Masters in Chemical Engineering with 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experience and ability to master new research areas, technical skills and lead new R&D projects.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Understanding of lab-scale testing equipment and willingness to do hands-on lab work and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for assigned lab areas, serving as the subject matter expert and managing day-to-day technical activities.
• Manage R&D projects, leading testing efforts for new product development and supporting customer activities.
• Provide R&D technical support to sales teams to solve problems.
• Present technical results to customers and maintain relationships with customers' technical groups.
• Develop information on product performance and positioning.
• Work with technical sales in preparation of product packages and presentations to customers.
• Identify patentable inventions and file patent disclosures.
• Attend and participate in professional conferences.
• Up to 10% domestic and/or international travel.

Skills

Chem Eng fundamentals

Process control

Kinetics

Heat & mass transfer

Lab testing experience

Hands-on lab work

Strong communication

Technical leadership

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

MS in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Excel Macros

C++

Job description

Annual Wage Range: $121,952.00 - $167,684.00

Other Compensation: Eligibility for the Short-Term Incentive program and other applicable bonuses

Benefits: U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com)

Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.

Job Description

Grace is seeking an R&D Engineer to join our Refining Catalysts Catalyst Evaluation R&D team. This role reports to the Director of Catalyst Evaluation and Services and is located at Columbia, Maryland. The primary function of this position is to support and enhance Grace's technical leadership in catalyst and petroleum testing for the Refining Technologies business. Testing in the Evaluations Research group is essential for new product development, customer reformulation, and customer technical support.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for assigned lab areas, serving as the subject matter expert, and managing day-to-day technical activities. Potential technical areas include processes and reactors for catalyst deactivation; batch and continuous reactors for catalyst performance testing and process evaluation; and analytical methods for feedstock and product characterization.
• Manage R&D projects, leading testing efforts for new product development in collaboration with the FCC Synthesis group and in support of customer activities.
• Provide R&D technical support to sales teams to solve problems.
• Present technical results of R&D and materials analyses to outside customers and maintain and manage direct relationships with contacts in customers technical groups.
• Develop information on product performance and product positioning.
• Work with technical sales in preparation of product packages and provide technical presentations to customers.
• Manage and develop strategy for identifying patentable inventions and filing patent disclosures.
• Attend and participate in professional conferences.
• Up to 10% domestic and/or international travel

Required Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of the fundamentals of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, including process control, kinetics, and heat and mass transfer.
• Experience and ability to master new research areas, technical skills and lead new R&D projects.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Understanding of lab-scale testing equipment and willingness to do hands-on lab work and troubleshooting.
• PhD or Masters in Chemical Engineering with 3 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering.
• Experience in heterogeneous catalysis and reaction engineering.
• Experience with fluidization.
• Experience with Excel Macros, C++ and other programming tools for analysis and compilation of lab data.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Grace Wellness Program
• Flexible Workplace with maximum overlap with the core hours
• Retirement Plans
• 401(k) Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Company Donation Match Program

Nearest Major Market: Baltimore