Scientist - Oilfield Applications R&D

Scientist – Oilfield Applications R&D

At Nouryon, our global team takes positive action every day, to reach higher collectively and individually. We create innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers to answer society’s needs – today and in the future.

We are looking for a Scientist with strong experience in oilfield production chemistry, surfactant and polymer applications, and hands-on laboratory and field testing to join our team in Houston, TX. Are you passionate about developing chemical solutions, solving complex technical challenges, and working directly with customers to improve product performance? If so, we would love to hear from you!

About the job

As a Scientist in our Oilfield R&D team, you will play a key role in developing, evaluating, and optimizing chemical solutions for oil and gas applications, with a particular focus on production chemistry and field performance.

You will combine hands-on laboratory research with customer-facing technical support, working closely with Sales, Marketing, and global R&D teams to deliver effective solutions. As we expand our support to a broader range of oilfield customers, you will have the opportunity to take ownership of technical projects, support formulation development, and conduct field trials across North America and occasionally Latin America.

This role is ideal for an experienced oilfield scientist who can apply their existing technical expertise from day one while contributing to innovation and business growth.

In your future role as Scientist, you will

• Lead and manage R&D projects focused on oilfield production chemistry, developing, evaluating, and optimizing chemical formulations for customer applications.


• Design, conduct, and interpret laboratory experiments and field trials, particularly in demulsification, water clarification, corrosion control, scale control, and flow assurance.


• Apply your expertise in surfactant, polymer, and surface chemistry to evaluate chemical performance, troubleshoot technical challenges, and develop effective solutions.


• Provide hands-on technical support to customers, including on-site formulation testing, product optimization, troubleshooting, and technical presentations.


• Take ownership of laboratory activities, including experimental design, testing protocols, equipment maintenance, and compliance with safety and HSE standards.


• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and global R&D teams to support customer development, long-term research projects, technical publications, and intellectual property initiatives.

We believe you bring

• A Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or a related field.


• At least 8 years of relevant experience in oilfield applications, with a strong background in production chemistry and field applications.


• Hands-on laboratory experience evaluating and optimizing oilfield chemical formulations, including the ability to understand the relationship between chemical structure and product performance.


• Strong technical expertise in surfactants, polymers, and their applications in oilfield operations, particularly production chemicals such as demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, and flow assurance solutions.


• Practical experience conducting field trials, supporting customers on-site, troubleshooting technical issues, and evaluating chemical performance in real-world oilfield conditions.


• Strong communication, problem-solving, and customer-facing skills, with the ability to work independently and travel up to 30% to customer and field sites, primarily in Texas and potentially Mexico and other locations in Latin America.

Great if you have

• A PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or a related field.


• Experience working in West Texas oilfields, particularly with demulsification and water clarification applications.


• Experience with R&D project management processes, including stage-gate methodologies such as Accolade.


• Experience preparing technical publications, supporting intellectual property activities, or contributing to global research projects.

We believe you are

• Analytical and solution-oriented, with the ability to understand complex chemical interactions, evaluate product performance, and develop practical solutions to technical challenges.


• Collaborative and customer-focused, confident working directly with customers, field personnel, and cross-functional teams to address technical needs.


• Independent and accountable, capable of managing laboratory activities and R&D projects with minimal supervision while maintaining high safety and quality standards.


• Adaptable and organized, comfortable balancing long-term research projects with urgent technical service requests and changing customer priorities.


• Curious and innovative, motivated to apply your scientific expertise to real-world oilfield challenges and continuously improve chemical solutions.

Have we got your interest?

This is a permanent position on a full-time basis, reporting to the Section Manager North America, R&D Oilfield, and based onsite at our Houston Almeda facility in Texas. The role involves travel of up to 30% to customer and field locations.

Please apply via our online recruitment system. We will not accept applications via email. Once it's with us, we will review it to see if we have a match between your skills and the role!

For more information about our hiring process, visit: https://www.nouryon.com/careers/how-we-hire/

We look forward to receiving your application!

We kindly ask our internal candidates to apply with their Nouryon email via SuccessFactors.

About Nouryon

Explore careers and life at Nouryon

If you're looking for your next career move, apply today and join Nouryon's worldwide team in providing essential solutions that our customers use to manufacture everyday products such as personal care, cleaning, paints and coatings, agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals, and building products.

Our employees are driven by the wish to make an impact and actively drive positive change. If that describes you, we will gladly make way for your ambitions. From day one, we support you with your personal growth through challenging positions and comprehensive learning and development opportunities in a dynamic, international, diverse, and proactive working environment.

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Nouryon is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.