Research Engineer, Sr

LyondellBasell

Basic Function

LyondellBasell, one of the world’s largest plastics, chemical and refining companies, is seeking an experienced Research Engineer for the Houston Technology Center (HTC) in Channelview, TX. HTC is a state-of-the-art R&D facility that serves as the global R&D center for LyondellBasell's Intermediates and Derivatives (I&D) and Olefins Businesses. HTC R&D focuses on innovative opportunities that drive sustainable process and technology improvements, improving catalyst and process technologies for our existing chemical manufacturing facilities and developing new technologies allowing LYB to maintain and build on our competitive advantages. HTC also provides technical support to our manufacturing and business organizations.
 

The Research Engineer, Sr. will lead efforts in the development, scale-up and industrialization of processes for a variety of chemical technologies. This includes identifying and developing technologies to reduce costs or improve efficiencies for existing units and inventing new products and process technologies to support long-term business, circularity and sustainability objectives.

This is an exciting career opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art research facility along-side our technical team of experts. HTC is located at the Channelview Complex, one of the largest petrochemical facilities in the Gulf Coast with approximately 2,000 employees, covering 4,000 acres, just 19 miles from our corporate Headquarters in downtown Houston. This is a direct-hire position with competitive base salary, bonus, 401K matching, generous benefits package, pension plan and employee discounts.
 

Roles & Responsibilities

Lead projects and project teams to identify and develop innovative new processes that support the company’s business objectives.

This will include:

 

• Design, build, commissioning and operation of pilot units.
• Project definition and experimental design for research programs.
• Ensure that objectives and experimental plans are well-prepared and communicated for effective project execution with the highest attention to process and personnel safety.
• Design of test units from lab to pilot scale, and protocols to efficiently generate data for process development.
• Provide leadership and direction to technicians/operators operating pilot units and other researchers supporting their projects.
• Work with the Engineering and Manufacturing organizations to plan and execute industrialization plans including plant trials, where needed.
• Support sustainability initiatives for process and technology improvements
• Interpretation, documentation and presentation of experimental results.
• Maintain a strong emphasis on safety, including responsibility for conducting thorough safety analysis of experimental programs.
• New idea generation and project definition.
• Identify and evaluate new or emerging technologies, research areas and growth opportunities to drive business growth, cost reductions, sustainable solutions and improvements to company safety and environmental performance.
• Have or develop expertise in the company’s core technologies, including developing a good understanding of competitors’ processes to drive technology leadership internally
• Work effectively with R&D researchers, staff, technicians, and management for competent performance of job functions.
• Work with Manufacturing, Global Engineering and the Businesses for alignment of project activities and efficient execution and implementation of R&D projects. May lead multi-functional project teams to support local or worldwide business objectives.

Min. Qualifications

• PhD in chemical Engineering with 5-10 years of industrial experience in chemicals, petrochemicals, fuels, or related R&D is required. Some consideration may be given to MS candidates with equivalent industrial and R&D experience. 
• Experience in the operation of pilot units is required.
• Experience with new pilot unit design, construction, and commissioning is required.
• Experience with process simulation, reactor modeling and reactor kinetics modeling preferred.
• Experience with commercial reactor and/or process design and scale-up is preferred.  
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing with technicians, fellow researchers, plant engineers, management, and executive levels is essential.
• Must be comfortable making presentations to senior management to obtain support for projects.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple and/or changing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Ability to lead R&D project teams to meet site and company goals. This includes providing mentorship to other resear