Senior Chemist

ChampionX; Odessa (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ChampionX seeks a Senior Chemist to lead laboratory testing, analyze complex data, and support R&D in a high-volume environment. You will mentor peers, guide technical workstreams, and ensure safety and quality across up to 1,000 samples monthly.

The role requires 5+ years in US land oilfield production chemistry, with hands-on experience in ICP-OES, IC, GC, and XRF. You will work with a small team reporting to the Regional Lab Manager to deliver results for customers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of US land oilfield production chemistry experience.
• Experience supporting production chemistry programs in oil and gas.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot ICP-OES, IC, GC, and XRF.
• Strong communication and teamwork in a small lab group.

Responsibilities

• Lead routine and non-routine analytical testing for customer programs.
• Troubleshoot, validate methods, and interpret analytical data.
• Mentor chemists and technicians; drive safety and quality practices.
• Manage multiple priorities and high sample volumes (up to 1,000/month).
• Collaborate with field personnel and customers to translate data into insights.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

High-volume testing

Analytical problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Prioritization

Independence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Master's degree in Chemistry (optional)

Tools

ICP-OES

Ion Chromatography

Gas Chromatography

XRF

Job description

Job DescriptionDisclaimer: SLB completed the acquisition of ChampionX on July 16, 2025. If selected for this position, your employment will begin with ChampionX and will transition to SLB as part of the planned integration.

Job DescriptionDisclaimer: SLB completed the acquisition of ChampionX on July 16, 2025. If selected for this position, your employment will begin with ChampionX and will transition to SLB as part of the planned integration. This Senior Chemist position focuses on applying advanced chemical expertise to design and execute laboratory testing, analyze complex data, and support research and development activities. The role requires strong leadership, including opportunities to mentor junior chemists, guiding technical workstreams, and driving best practices in safety, quality, and efficiency, while managing a high-volume workload of up to 1,000 samples per month. Working closely with a small, collaborative team of two other chemists and reporting directly to the Regional Lab Manager, this individual must prioritize teamwork and effective communication to ensure project success. The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of laboratory experience, proven leadership ability, and strong problem-solving skills within a highly team-oriented environment. The successful candidate will be a technically strong production chemist who thrives in a small-team environment, is comfortable managing a high-volume analytical workload, takes ownership of responsibilities, communicates effectively with customers and colleagues, and contributes positively to a collaborative and accountable laboratory culture.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or related field with at least 5 years of US Land oilfield production chemistry experience, or
• Master's degree in Chemistry or related field with at least 3 years of US Land oilfield production chemistry experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting production chemistry programs for U.S. land-based oil and gas operations.
• Experience managing high volumes of routine analytical testing while maintaining quality, accuracy, and turnaround time expectations.
• Proven ability to follow SOPs, work independently, prioritize competing demands, and manage moderately complex projects with minimal supervision.
• Experience operating and troubleshooting ICP-OES, Ion Chromatography (IC), Gas Chromatography (GC), XRF, or equivalent analytical instrumentation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Skills & Experience (Must – Haves)

• Demonstrated success working within a small laboratory team where collaboration, flexibility, and individual accountability are critical to overall laboratory performance.
• Demonstrate initiative and ability to work independently and handle multiple tasks
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, quality, and customer responsiveness.
• Demonstrated desire and initiative to grow into leadership roles over time, including taking on increased responsibility, mentoring peers, and contributing to team development
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds, climb stairs or ladder, and agile enough to squat and bend over
• Ability to independently prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a high-volume workload (handling up to 1,000 samples per month)

Preferred Skills & Experience (Nice To Have)

• 5–10 years of experience in oilfield production chemistry, chemical manufacturing, or industrial analytical laboratory environments.
• 3+ years of laboratory leadership, technical leadership, mentoring, or senior laboratory experience supporting production chemistry operations.
• Demonstrated history of taking ownership of laboratory responsibilities, following through on commitments, and consistently delivering high-quality results.
• Proven ability to foster a collaborative, respectful, and solutions-oriented work environment through effective communication and constructive engagement with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Experience presenting technical findings, managing projects, and collaborating effectively across functional teams.
• Understanding of customer needs and ability to translate analytical data into actionable operational insights.
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements that enhance laboratory efficiency, quality, safety, or customer service.

Job Duties

• Lead and execute routine and non-routine analytical testing activities in support of customer programs, field operations, and laboratory service commitments.
• Apply advanced production chemistry knowledge and sound technical judgment to troubleshoot challenges, validate methods, interpret analytical data, and solve complex problems.
• Support customer programs by designing, conducting, and interpreting laboratory analyses tied to real-world field performance and operational outcomes.
• Independently manage multiple priorities, project deadlines, customer requests, and stakeholder communications in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
• Manage high volumes of routine analytical testing while maintaining quality, accuracy, data integrity, and turnaround time expectations.
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize laboratory instrumentation while ensuring compliance with established QA/QC procedures and laboratory standards.
• Support the mentoring, training, and development of chemists, technicians, and technologists through coaching, knowledge sharing, and technical guidance.
• Collaborate with field personnel, sales, technical teams, and customers to translate analytical data into actionable recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements that enhance laboratory efficiency, quality, safety, and customer service.
• Champion safety culture, support continuous improvement initiatives, and contribute positively to overall laboratory performance, efficiency, and team effectiveness.
• Perform miscellaneous administrative tasks.

About ChampionXChampionX is now part of SLB, a global technology company driving energy innovation for a balanced planet. As innovators, that’s been our mission for nearly a century. We are a technology company that unlocks access to energy for the benefit of all. As innovators, that’s been our mission for nearly a century. Today, we face a global imperative to create a future with more energy, but less carbon. Our diverse, innovative change makers are focused on going further in innovation and inventing the new energy technologies we need to get there. For more news and information, visit SLB.com. Follow us on Facebook at @WeAreSLBGlobal, LinkedIn: SLBGlobal, or Instagram at @SLBGlobal.

Our Commitment to Diversity and InclusionWe believe the best teams are diverse and inclusive, and we are on a journey to create a workplace where every employee can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of employees and applicants. We recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement on the basis of individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.