Research & Development Manager

Baker Hughes Company; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical care

Life insurance & disability

Financial programs

Wellbeing & work-life balance

Bonuses possible

Job summary

Baker Hughes in Texas seeks a Research and Development Manager to lead the Upstream Chemicals R&D Group within the Technical Advisory Council Leader organization. You will oversee project management across Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, and Production Optimization, aligning priorities with business needs and regional teams.

You will coach scientists and engineers, translate voice-of-customer inputs into executable plans, and ensure safety, quality, cost discipline, and measurable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical discipline with several years in R&D, technology development, 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.
• Ability to mentor scientists and build technical capability within an R&D organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead project management across TD, PD, and RD projects (Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, Production Optimization).
• Own the R&D operating rhythm with prioritization, milestones, resource planning, and risk management.
• Align R&D projects with Technology Roadmap and regional needs; drive customer-driven opportunities.
• Coach and develop scientists and technicians; manage performance and succession planning.
• Drive disciplined execution from idea intake to commercialization; manage budgets and capacity.
• Communicate status, risks, and business impact to leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Team coaching

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry/Engineering/Materials Science

Master’s degree in Chemistry/Engineering/Materials Science

Tools

Clarity

PDM

Product qualification workflows

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

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.

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.

Key Responsibilities

• 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

• 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, product qualification, or field application requirements.
• Have proven ability to lead, coach, and develop technical personnel.
• Have excellent communication, organizational, planning, and presentation skills.
• Have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence R&D, technical advisors, portfolio teams, regional teams, and business stakeholders.
• Have demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, compliance, and operational discipline.

Desired

• Have 2+ years of direct leadership or managerial experience preferred.
• Have Experience with Flow Assurance, Integrity Management, and/or Production Optimization chemistry programs.
• Have Experience managing TD, PD, RD, or similar stage-gated technology/product development projects.
• Have Experience working with Clarity, PDM, product qualification workflows, or similar project governance systems.
• Have Experience translating customer, regional, or portfolio needs into executable R&D project plans.
• Have Strong business acumen and ability to connect technical work to commercial outcomes, product competitiveness, cost optimization, and customer value.
• Have Ability to operate in a matrixed global organization and align priorities across Technology, PLM, PCO, Sales, Service Delivery, and regional technical teams.
• Have Demonstrated ability to create structure, accountability, and transparency in complex technical organizations.
• Have Ability to mentor scientists, build technical capability, and strengthen succession depth within the R&D organization.
• Have willingness to travel up to 20% of the time.

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.

Working with us

Our people are at the heart of what we do at Baker Hughes. We know we are stronger when our people are developed, engaged, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We invest in wellbeing, capability development, and leadership growth across all levels.

Working for you

Our innovations have transformed the energy industry for over a century. To continue progressing, we look for individuals who embrace change and contribute to building the future.

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
• 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: Senior Team Leader, Chemistry & Chemical, Research and Technology Development

At Baker Hughes, we are transforming the future of energy. With operations in over 120 countries, we are developing and deploying industry-leading technologies and services to take energy forward. For more than a century, our inventions have revolutionized energy. Today, we are bringing our expertise to make oil and gas safer, cleaner, and more efficient. Our people are the trusted experts, relied on to solve customer challenges big and small. 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. We believe in creating an environment of diversity and inclusion, without bias. We know we are better when all of our people are developed, engaged, and able to bring their whole authentic selves to work. We're makers, inventors, and leaders who aren't afraid of the tough challenges. We believe pushing boundaries will help to lead the way for a new energy future.