Research & Development Manager

bakerhughes; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker Hughes in Sugar Land, TX is seeking a high-impact Research and Development Manager to lead the Upstream Chemicals R&D Group within the Technical Advisory Council Leader organization. The role focuses on disciplined project management and execution across Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, and Production Optimization for TD, PD, and RD projects.

You will manage a team of scientists and technicians, aligning R&D priorities with business needs, customer challenges, and regional technical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Engineering, or related discipline with 7+ years of R&D experience.
• Master's degree with 5+ years in R&D, technology development, product development, engineering, or upstream chemicals.
• Experience managing technical projects, innovation programs, or product development activities.
• Strong project management skills, prioritization, planning, milestone management, risk management, and cross-functional execution.
• Knowledge of upstream production chemicals and lab development.

Responsibilities

• Lead project management across Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, and Production Optimization for TD, PD, and RD projects.
• Own the R&D operating rhythm: prioritization, milestone tracking, resource planning, risk management, progress reviews.
• Ensure alignment with Technology Roadmap and regional needs; drive customer-driven opportunities.
• Coach and develop scientists/technicians; manage performance and career growth.
• Drive disciplined execution from idea to laboratory development, validation, field trials, and commercialization.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

R&D leadership

Upstream chemicals knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry/chemical engineering/materials science

Master's degree in chemistry/chemical engineering/materials science

Job description

Research and Development Manager

Do you have a proven track record of leading R&D teams and delivering innovative solutions through disciplined project execution?

Are you motivated by the opportunity to build technical capability, accelerate commercialization, and support sustainable growth in a global organization?

Partnering with the best

As a Research and Development Manager , you will provide a vital service by implementing, monitoring, troubleshooting, and evaluating chemical treatment programs. You will take ownership of key customer accounts to ensure they have the services and products required to operate safely and efficiently.

Fueling your passion

The Research and Development Manager will lead the Upstream Chemicals R&D Group within the Technical Advisory Council Leader organization. This role is accountable for disciplined project management and execution across Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, and Production Optimization for Technology Development, Product Development, and Research Development projects. The position will manage a team of scientists and technicians, ensuring R&D priorities are aligned with business needs, customer challenges, Portfolio Management, Product Commercialization/Optimization, Technical Advisors/SMEs, and regional technical teams.

The role is expected to strengthen R&D execution, improve project visibility and accountability, accelerate high-impact innovation, and develop technical talent within the R&D organization. This leader will help translate regional voice-of-customer input and product line priorities into executable project plans while maintaining focus on safety, quality, cost discipline, and measurable technology outcomes.

As a Research and Development Manager , y ou will be responsible for:

• Leading project management across Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, and Production Optimization for TD, PD, and RD projects.
• Owning the R&D operating rhythm, including project prioritization, milestone tracking, resource planning, risk management, and regular progress reviews.
• Ensuring R&D projects are aligned with the Technology Roadmap, Portfolio Management priorities, regional needs, and customer-driven opportunities.
• Managing, coaching, and developing scientists and technicians within the R&D Group, including performance management, competency development, succession planning, and career growth.
• Driving disciplined execution of innovation projects from idea intake through laboratory development, validation, qualification, field trial planning, and commercialization support.
• Partnering with Technical Advisors, SMEs, PLM, PCO, regional technical teams, and Service Delivery to convert customer and regional needs into actionable R&D programs.
• Establishing clear project accountability, deliverables, timelines, and success metrics for R&D programs across the product portfolio.
• Supporting the development of new chemistries, product improvements, cost optimization opportunities, and product competitiveness initiatives.
• Maintaining visibility to R&D capacity and resource allocation to balance long-term innovation, urgent business needs, and technical support requirements.
• Promoting a strong safety culture and ensure laboratory activities are executed in accordance with applicable HSE, quality, and operational standards.
• Managing operational and capital expenditure planning for the R&D Group, ensuring resources are deployed effectively against strategic priorities.
• Improving documentation, knowledge capture, technical rigor, and consistency across R&D workflows and project reviews.
• Supporting external collaborations, joint development opportunities, vendor engagement, and third-party testing where appropriate to accelerate technology development.
• Communicating project status, risks, resource needs, and business impact clearly to the Technical Advisory Council Leader and relevant stakeholders.
• Leading special projects as assigned in support of Upstream Chemicals Technology strategy.

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have bachelor's degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 7+ years of relevant experience in R&D, technology development, product development, engineering, or upstream chemicals.
• Or have a master's degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience in R&D, technology development, product development, engineering, or upstream chemicals.
• Have demonstrated experience managing technical projects, innovation programs, or product development activities.
• Have strong project management skills, including prioritization, planning, milestone management, risk management, and cross-functional execution.
• Have ability to manage multiple technical projects across diverse product lines and stakeholders.
• Have strong technical understanding of upstream production chemicals, laboratory development, produ