Job Description
Annual Wage Range: $138,597.60 - $190,571.70
Other Compensation: Eligibility for the Short-Term Incentive program and other applicable bonuses
Benefits:U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com)
Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more. Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.
Job Description
Grace is seeking a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer to join our Refining Catalyst R&D team. The Senior R&D Engineer will play a key role in developing next-generation Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives, advancing innovative technologies from concept through commercialization through the Stage-Gate process. This position combines technical innovation, market insight, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver differentiated solutions that address customer and industry needs.
The Senior R&D Engineer will work closely with Marketing, Process Technology, Manufacturing, Sales, and Technical Service teams to identify emerging opportunities, develop intellectual property, and support commercialization of new products. The role also provides opportunities to gain direct exposure to FCC customers, catalyst strategy, and business development activities.
They will also collaborate with colleagues to use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to accelerate innovation.
This role is based at Grace corporate headquarters in Columbia, MD.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development of new FCC catalyst and additive technologies from concept generation through commercialization.
- Identify market needs and technology gaps by collaborating with Marketing, Sales, Technical Service, and commercial teams, and translate insights into new product opportunities.
- Design, execute, and interpret catalyst testing programs to optimize formulations and guide product development decisions.
- Support the generation and protection of intellectual property through invention disclosures, patent applications, and technical documentation.
- Present project results, technical recommendations, and business impact to R&D leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Partner with Process Technology, Manufacturing, and Marketing teams to scale up and commercialize new technologies while supporting Stage-Gate project execution.
- Build understanding of overall FCC chemistry, customer needs, global refining market trends, and catalyst strategy, with opportunities to grow into an R&D Partner role supporting key market segments and global FCC accounts.
- Promote a strong safety culture by consistently following laboratory and plant safety protocols, participating in safety meetings and training, and proactively identifying and addressing potential safety risks.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related technical field
- 3+ years of post-Ph.D. experience in catalysis research
- Experience managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while consistently meeting deadlines
- Experience using the fundamentals of chemistry and chemical engineering
- Excellent communications skills and ability to interface at all levels within R&D and cross-functionally
- Ability to travel up to 15%
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in petrochemical and catalyst cracking research
- Experience in catalyst performance testing
- Experience with intellectual property activities including patent applications and competitive intelligence
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance and Disability
- Grace Wellness Program
- Flexible Workplace with maximum overlap with the core hours
- Retirement Plans
- 401(k) Company Match
- Paid Vacation and Holidays
- Parental Leave
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Company Donation Match Program
Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Columbia, MD |
| Industry | Chemicals/Petro-Chemicals |
| Salary | $138,597.60–$190,571.70 Per Year |
| Company Size | 5,000 to 9,999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1854 |
| Website | http://www.grace.com/ |
About Company
What's in a slogan?
A story. A promise. An invitation.
You'll find Grace products in toothpaste, car bumpers, water- and fireproofing materials; in cans and bottles; in roads, bridges, and buildings; and in plastics, petroleum products, and much, much more. Over 1,000 Grace patents are the product of a deeply-rooted culture of invention. Grace people develop, manufacture, and deliver breakthrough and proven products to meet needs in new places and new applications in Catalysts Technologies, Materials Technologies, and Construction Products.Grace's story is a story of quality and commitment; with longstanding relationships and collaboration—with customers, co-workers, partners, and communities. And it's a story of Values that have turned priorities such as safety and respect into Grace DNA.
Finally, it's a story of growth; of dramatic expansion beyond traditional mature markets into the world's fastest growing economies. The success of Grace products mirrors the world's most promising stories of improving living standards throughout the world.
Our promise to customers, to our communities, and to ourselves is to deliver value; safely, reliably, and creatively. When we do, the lives touched by our products and those of our customers are made better.
So we invite you to look closely at the opportunities now available with Grace. If you're ready to lead, ready to grow, and ready to make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Skills
- Alternative Fuelsunmatched
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)unmatched
- Biotech and Pharmaceuticalunmatched
- Business Developmentunmatched
- Channel Supportunmatched
- Chemical Engineeringunmatched
- Chemistryunmatched
- Communication Skillsunmatched
- Cross-Functionalunmatched
- Dental Insuranceunmatched
- Employee Benefitsunmatched
- FCC (Federal Communications Commission)unmatched
- Intellectual Property (IP)unmatched
- Intellectual Property Developmentunmatched
- Invention Disclosuresunmatched
- Leadershipunmatched
- Machine Learningunmatched
- Market Segmentationunmatched
- Market Trend Analysisunmatched
- Marketingunmatched
- Multitaskingunmatched
- Needs Assessmentunmatched
- Patent Applicationsunmatched
- Performance Testingunmatched
- Petrochemicalsunmatched
- Process Engineeringunmatched
- Process Manufacturingunmatched
- Product Developmentunmatched
- Product Documentationunmatched
- Product Supportunmatched
- Product/Service Launchunmatched
- Project Executionunmatched
- Project/Program Managementunmatched
- Research & Development (R&D)unmatched
- Resolve Customer Issuesunmatched
- Resume Searchunmatched
- Retirement Planunmatched
- Safety Trainingunmatched
- Technical Salesunmatched
- Technical Supportunmatched
- Technical Writingunmatched
- Test Programunmatched
- Time Managementunmatched
- User Documentationunmatched
- Vision Planunmatched
- Willing to Travelunmatched
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