R&D Engineer

Grace; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Grace Wellness Program

Flexible Workplace

Retirement Plans

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Company Donation Match

Job summary

Grace, a Standard Industries company, is seeking an R&D Engineer to join the Refining Catalysts Catalyst Evaluation R&D team in Columbia, MD. The role supports technical leadership in catalyst testing and product development, working with sales and customers to translate results into engineered solutions.

You'll manage lab activities, lead projects, present findings, and collaborate across groups. Up to 10% travel is expected, with opportunities to impact performance and product positioning.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in Chemical Engineering with 3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of chemistry and chemical engineering fundamentals.
• Willingness to perform hands-on lab work and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for assigned lab areas and act as SME.
• Manage R&D projects and lead testing for new product development.
• Support sales teams with technical solutions.
• Present R&D results to customers and manage client relationships.
• Develop information on product performance and positioning.
• Collaborate with technical sales on product packages and presentations.
• Identify patentable inventions and file disclosures.
• Attend and participate in professional conferences.
• Travel up to 10% domestically and/or internationally.

Skills

Lab leadership

Chemical engineering fundamentals

Process control

Kinetics & heat/mass transfer

Communication skills

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

Masters in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Excel Macros

C++

Job description

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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.

• 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.
• 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
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Company Donation Match Program

Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.