Surfactant Applications Research Chemist

Sasol; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sasol (USA) Corporation is seeking a Surfactant Applications Research Chemist in Lake Charles to support R&D of surfactant-based systems and alcohol derivatives. The role emphasizes developing, formulating, and testing new products aligned with global strategies and customer needs.

The position requires hands-on lab work, strong safety practices, and experience with surfactants. PhD preferred, with potential for significant technical leadership and collaboration across research, sales, and

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with surfactant systems and related alcohols/derivatives.
• Experience working in a laboratory setting providing data and reporting results.
• Strong commitment to safety and compliant laboratory practices.
• R&D project management experience: plan, initiate, and drive projects to completion.

Responsibilities

• Supports research projects addressing technical objectives in Pulp & Paper and applications testing with surfactants and alcohols.
• Develops and executes technical projects aligned with the needs of the assigned application area.
• Leads significant technical initiatives and manages multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrates feasibility of technical solutions and communicates results to teams.
• Maintains documentation of experiments, results, and data in electronic notebooks and reports.
• Presents findings at group meetings and departmental seminars; travels as needed.
• Interacts with customers, manager, and other groups; collaborates with global R&D teams.

Skills

Surfactants

Laboratory work

Safety

MS Office

Communication

Project management

Education

PhD in Chemistry

Masters in Chemistry

Bachelor's in Chemistry

Job description

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Surfactant Applications Research Chemist

Posting Date: Oct 28, 2026

Location: Lake Charles, United States

Company: Sasol

A job at Sasol is a career made by you, with purpose, development opportunities, benefits to support every stage of life and a working culture that embraces flexibility, diversity, and inclusion. Learn more.

Purpose of Job

Support applications-focused research and development activities at the Lake Charles site, with emphasis on surfactant-based systems, in alignment with global business strategies and objectives to ensure profitable growth. Develop, formulate, and test new surfactant-based and specialty chemical products for use for instance in across Pulp & Paper applications. Demonstrate the value of existing and experimental Sasol products, particularly alcohols and surfactants, in relevant markets to support specialty chemical sales. Provide technical support at conferences and customer meetings as needed.

Key Accountabilities

• Supports research projects that address the technical objectives of the research group including Pulp & Paper and applications testing in a variety of different end use markets that use surfactants and alcohols.
• With support from the manager, develops and executes technical projects which are aligned with the needs of the assigned application area.
• Leads significant technical initiatives within research group and handles multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrates feasibility of technical solutions to key problems/issues known within research group and project teams.
• Competent regarding key instrumentation and standard techniques commonly used in the assigned laboratory and reliably executes more complex procedures.
• Responsible for safety setting up and conducting laboratory experiments independently. Properly maintaining Sasol equipment and for the generation and communications of reliable properly documenbted data.
• Documents results in electronic laboratory notebook, research reports and presents key finding in group meetings and departmental seminars.
• Attends, networks and presents at key conferences.
• Interacts with customers, manager and group members, and routinely interacts with other research groups in the local laboratory.
• Develops and maintains relationships with key stakeholders within research group, LC R&D department, global R&D departments, sales and marketing.
• Responsible for understanding Sasol's procedures for securing intellectual property; responsible for appropriately recording laboratory results for use in developing intellectual property.
• Ability to travel as needed

Formal Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry (preferred) or Masters/Bachelors in chemistry or other physical science

Working Experience

PhD or (Masters with 5 years experience - Bachelor with 10 years experience)

Required Personal and Professional Skills

• Hands-on experience, ideally including surfactant systems, alcohols and derivatives.
• Familiar with working in the laboratory
• Strong commitment to safety
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc) and ability to work on instruments with computer interface
• Effective interpersonal skills to work with internal and external customers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• R&D Project management experience required: Plan, initiate, and run projects to conclusion with necessary interaction with R&D, Marketing and Sales, and customers

Sasol (USA) Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, as well as any other characteristic protected by applicable law, regulation or local ordinance. For more information about your rights under the law, see http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

Sasol treats work-authorized job applicants equally in recruiting and hiring without regard to their citizenship status or national origin unless required by law, regulation, executive order, government contract, or determination by the Attorney General. Please note Sasol will not sponsor, obtain, and/or petition for temporary visa status (for example, E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN) for candidates for this position and/or personnel hired for this position.