Research & Development Manager, Grease & OGL

Calumet; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Calumet in Indianapolis seeks an experienced R&D Manager to drive grease and open gear lubricant product development across industrial, automotive, mining, and specialty applications. You will lead a team of chemists, collaborate with suppliers and OEMs, and ensure products meet industry standards while guiding project execution from concept to commercialization.

The role requires a strong background in chemical engineering or related field, 10+ years in lubricants, and proven leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field required.
• 10+ years in formulating greases, open gear lubricants, or finished lubricants.
• Hands-on grease manufacturing experience (thickener saponification, kettle operations, milling).
• Knowledge of thickener systems (lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, polyurea).
• Experience using ASTM, DIN, ISO methods for lubrication testing.
• Experience with OEMs, additive and base oil companies.
• Proven leadership and staff development experience.
• Strong attention to detail and problem solving abilities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Effective project management and multitasking capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead grease, open gear lubricant (OGL), and semi-solid lubricant projects across industrial, automotive, mining, and specialty applications.
• Develop greases and OGLs with measurable performance advantages.
• Secure OEM and industry approvals and NLGI certifications.
• Collaborate with key suppliers and OEMs to assess base oils, thickeners, and additives.
• Design and execute test programs to benchmark performance against standards.
• Work with cross-functional teams to align products with brand strategy and supplier/OEM inputs.
• Evaluate raw material performance including base oils and additive packages.
• Provide expert technical support to external customers and internal teams.
• Scale up formulations from bench to pilot plant and to full-scale production.
• Maintain knowledge of industry standards and test methods (NLGI, ELGI, STLE, ASTM, ISO, DIN).
• Mentor, coach, and train R&D chemists and lab technicians.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical thinking

Technical writing

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Analytical equipment

Job description

Who are we?

At Calumet we deliver innovative specialty products trusted by companies across the globe. We are the foundation to everyday essential products that help millions of people live and thrive. We are headquartered in Indianapolis and have numerous production locations in the US. We are customer focused and utilize our values of collaboration and entrepreneurship to grow the business. We offer a dynamic, high-performance environment where team members can have real input and impact on our business. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, treat the business as if it is your own and add value accordingly, come see why we’re Calumet Proud!

Who are we?

At Calumet we deliver innovative specialty products trusted by companies across the globe. We are the foundation to everyday essential products that help millions of people live and thrive. We are headquartered in Indianapolis and have numerous production locations in the US. We are customer focused and utilize our values of collaboration and entrepreneurship to grow the business. We offer a dynamic, high-performance environment where team members can have real input and impact on our business. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, treat the business as if it is your own and add value accordingly, come see why we’re Calumet Proud!

PURPOSE:

R&D Managers are integral members of the Product Management / Research and Development Team, reporting to the Director of Product Management / R&D, and are responsible for designing and delivering premium products that support business growth objectives. This role spans the full product development lifecycle—from initial concept through commercialization—and includes continuous improvement of existing grease and open gear lubricant (OGL) formulations to meet evolving industry, OEM, and customer requirements. This role is critical in ensuring our BEL-RAY grease and OGL portfolio remains technically differentiated, market-relevant, and aligned with the strategic direction of the business which is focusing on growth in mining and food-grade - both require this area of expertise.

KEY OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead grease, open gear lubricant (OGL), and semi-solid lubricant product development projects across industrial, automotive, mining, and specialty applications.
• Develop greases and OGLs that demonstrate measurable performance advantages.
• Secure relevant OEM and industry approvals and NLGI certifications.
• Collaborate closely with key suppliers and industry experts to assess base oil, thickener, and additive technologies.
• Design and execute test programs to benchmark performance against industry standards and OEM specifications.
• Work with Cross-functional teams to develop company products that support brand strategy by collaborating with suppliers and OEMs to deliver innovative products.
• Evaluate function and performance of raw materials—including base oils, thickener systems, and additive packages—in grease and OGL formulations.
• Provide expert technical support and problem-solving solutions to external customers and internal cross-functional teams such as quality-control, production, sales, marketing teams and customers.
• Design and execute test programs to demonstrate and validate product technology, claims, and benefits.
• Support scale-up of grease and OGL formulations from bench batch through pilot kettle and full-scale plant production, partnering with manufacturing to ensure consistency and yield.
• Maintain knowledge of industry and specifications, OEMs, NLGI, ELGI, ASTM, ISO, DIN, STLE and other test standards applicable to greases and open gear lubricants.
• Develop and maintain product development processes.
• Collaborate with, direct the work for and manage R&D Chemists.
• Mentor, coach, and train R&D Chemists and laboratory technicians, and deliver product support training to internal and external customers.
• Other duties as required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCES:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related scientific field. MS or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 10 years research experience in formulating greases, open gear lubricants, and/or finished lubricants.
• Hands-on experience with grease manufacturing processes, including thickener saponification, kettle operations, milling, and homogenization.
• Working knowledge of major thickener systems (lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, polyurea, clay, and aluminum complex).
• Established laboratory safety, technical competency with strong lubricant and grease principles background.
• Experience using analytical equipment according to ASTM, DIN and ISO methods, including penetration, dropping point, roll stability, water washout, and bearing life testing.
• Experience in the lubricants industry and working with OEMs, additive companies, and base oil companies.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and supervising technical staff.
• Strong attention to detail, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Effective writing and oral presentation skills to clearly communicate ideas, data, recommendations, and conclusions.
• Effective project management skills with the ability to work on multiple projects and other technical tasks simultaneously and deliver results in a timely manner.
• Strong interpersonal, networking and communication skills to work with suppliers, OEMs, customers, and at industry meetings such as NLGI, ELGI, and STLE.

COMPETENCIES:

• Business Acumen & Partnership – Demonstrated ability to understand the business and align activity to meet business needs at both strategic and operational levels.
• Delivers Results – Attentive to detail and demonstrated ability to deliver on accountabilities to help the business and the team be successful. Track record of high-performance.
• Drive– Positive energy, ambitious, courageous, flexible but decisive, with the ability to take on continuous and complex business challenges in a fast-paced environment. Persistence to drive to solutions despite obstacles and/or competing priorities.
• Emotional Maturity – Ability to withstand pressure and manage emotions effectively to create the right effect on people and organization.
• Ethics & Integrity – High degree of personal integrity in all business dealings.
• Functional Skill – General awareness, exposure, and understanding across product development, research and innovation.
• Judgment/Decision-Making – Smart, with the ability to think through issues and make wise decisions, often without all facts and information or high levels of direction.
• Leadership & Development of Others – Enjoys mentoring, coaching, and educating; builds technical capability in others and develops high-performing teams.
• Problem-Solving & Opportunity Identification – Ability to frame clear problem statements and use objective information and data to help solve complex business challenges and generate options and solutions for business leaders. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement to contribute value to the business.
• Teamwork/Collaboration – An effective team player with a positive attitude, strong customer service orientation, and focused on delivering outstanding results to clients and the business.
• Demonstration of Calumet Values – Safety, Environment & Social Responsibility, Teamwork, Ownership, Passion for Customers, and Excellence

Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. We are an equal opportunity employer including disability and veteran and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact our HR team at [e-mail]. Requests for accommodations will not impact hiring decisions, and all information provided will be kept confidential.

All offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test