Senior Water Treatment R&D Chemist — Lab Leader

USALCO; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Usalco, a leading U.S. provider of water treatment chemistries, seeks a Research Scientist at its Baltimore center.

You will originate and lead applied research projects that translate lab findings into commercial products and process improvements, directly impacting public health and sustainability. The role is a senior, individual contributor position requiring hands-on chemistry, independent project leadership, and collaboration with Operations, Product Management, and Sales to support

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry (or closely related field).
• 5+ years of technical experience in industrial or applied research.
• Ability to independently lead complex technical projects with limited supervision.
• Strong hands-on laboratory skills.
• Proven record of translating research outcomes into commercial or operational impact.
• Experience developing and launching products in the water treatment industry (municipal and/or industrial).
• Willingness to work on-site at Usalco's Baltimore Research & Development Center.

Responsibilities

• Originate and lead applied research programs aligned with business needs, from early‑stage concept development through laboratory validation, scale‑up support, and product launch/commercialization, with clear ownership to drive projects to achieve defined technical and business goals.
• Own project execution by defining workplans, milestones, and deliverables and maintaining timeline accountability typical of an applied R&D organization focused on practical, scalable solutions.
• Personally design and execute laboratory experiments, including hands‑on bench work, data analysis, documentation, and interpretation involving organic, inorganic, and aluminum‑based chemistries, with emphasis on water treatment performance, stability, and manufacturability.
• Serve as a lead chemist supporting company‑wide process optimization, troubleshooting, and root‑cause analysis across manufacturing sites and customer applications.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior scientists, chemists, and analysts, including experimental design guidance and data interpretation.
• Translate fundamental chemistry insights into practical, scalable solutions that improve product performance, reliability, cost, or sustainability.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Operations, Technical Service, Product Management, and Sales to support product launches, customer trials, and technical issue resolution.
• Author and review technical documentation, including experimental reports, internal technical guidance, and intellectual property disclosures.
• Maintain high standards for laboratory safety, data integrity, and regulatory compliance, consistent with Usalco's safety‑first culture.
• Stay current with emerging regulatory drivers and industry trends (e.g., PFAS, DBPs, LCRI) relevant to water treatment chemistry.

Skills

Laboratory skills

Project leadership

Technical problem solving

Data analysis

Collaboration

Documentation

Education

PhD in Chemistry

5+ years industrial experience

Tools

ICP‑OES

TOC

UV‑Vis

Jar testing

Job description

Usalco, a leading U.S. provider of water treatment chemistries, seeks a Research Scientist at its Baltimore center.

You will originate and lead applied research projects that translate lab findings into commercial products and process improvements, directly impacting public health and sustainability. The role is a senior, individual contributor position requiring hands-on chemistry, independent project leadership, and collaboration with Operations, Product Management, and Sales to support