Surfactant Applications Research Chemist

Sasol Limited; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sasol is looking for a Surfactant Applications Research Chemist in Lake Charles, USA. The role focuses on surfactant-based systems and related alcohols, supporting development and testing of new products in line with global strategies.

You will contribute to conferences and customer meetings, and provide technical support as needed. The candidate should hold a PhD in Chemistry (preferred) or an advanced degree with significant experience, and will collaborate with multiple internal groups and

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience, ideally including surfactant systems, alcohols and derivatives.
• Familiar with working in the laboratory.
• Strong commitment to safety.
• R&D Project management experience required: Plan, initiate, and run projects to conclusion with interaction with R&D, Marketing and Sales, and customers.

Responsibilities

• Supports research projects addressing technical objectives in Pulp & Paper and applications testing involving surfactants and alcohols.
• Develops and executes technical projects aligned with needs of the assigned application area.
• Leads significant technical initiatives within the research group and handles multiple projects.
• Demonstrates feasibility of technical solutions to problems known within teams.
• Operates key instrumentation and standard techniques; performs complex procedures.
• Sets up and conducts laboratory experiments safely and maintains Sasol equipment.
• Documents results in electronic lab notebook and presents findings in meetings and seminars.
• Interacts with customers, manager, group members and other research groups.
• Develops relationships with stakeholders in R&D, sales and marketing; protects intellectual property.

Skills

Surfactant systems

Laboratory work

Safety focus

MS Office

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

R&D project mgmt

Customer interaction

Education

PhD in chemistry

Masters in chemistry or physical science

Bachelor in chemistry or physical science

Tools

MS Office

Instruments with computer interface

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.