Lead Researcher

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Veolia's Water Technology Business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy. Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

Position Overview:
We are seeking a Phase Separation Researcher to join our Hydrocarbon Processing Industry (HPI) Technology team at our Tomball, TX research facility. This role is crucial in developing innovative treatment programs and supporting our customers for hydrocarbon processing applications, focusing on phase separation during the processing of petroleum and renewable feedstocks and products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform chemical bench work at Veolia facilities and customer sites
• Research, develop, and commercialize innovative treatment programs for Hydrocarbon Processing applications
• Develop and apply methods and simulations on lab scale that correlate with full-scale applications
• Assess and validate market needs through direct interactions with customers and internal teams
• Translate customer requirements into unique technology solutions
• Contribute to idea generation, conduct experiments, and review results
• Provide technical product support and non-routine problem solving
• Synthesize and present complex technical data and findings to internal and external customers
• Leverage data management platforms and AI/ML tools to accelerate research workflows
• Participate effectively in Environmental, Health and Safety and Quality Assurance programs
• Travel up to 20% of the time for customer interactions and on-site work

Required Qualifications

• Masters in Chemistry or Engineering, OR Bachelors degree in a related field with a minimum of 5 years of research experience
• Demonstrated expertise in demulsification, emulsion science, surfactants, or interfacial science
• Proficiency with standard data analysis, presentation, and office productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Google Sheets)
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Legally authorized to work in the United States

Desired Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry or Engineering
• Expertise in polymers, colloids, and wet chemistry
• Knowledge of high throughput combinatorial research methods
• Experience leveraging data management platforms, statistical tools, and AI/ML models to accelerate research workflows
• Familiarity with scripting/programming languages (e.g., Python, R) for data processing and/or specialized modeling/simulation software
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent problem-solving abilities, with capacity to implement major changes
• Self-motivated professional with a strong drive for results and a track record of setting and meeting aggressive goals
• An adaptable approach that embraces change and technological evolution

What We Offer:

• Drive Innovation and Impact: Work on cutting-edge solutions for the energy industry, gain global exposure, and make a significant environmental impact as we pursue ecological transformation.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a collaborative environment with a diverse team of expert scientists and engineers.
• Career Advancement: Access to career growth opportunities within a leading multinational corporation.
• Commitment to D&I: Veolia champions diversity and inclusion, recognizing that diverse teams make smarter decisions and deliver better results. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
VEOLIA will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen.

At Veolia, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We’re an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Because our people are our greatest assets, we also offer competitive compensation and benefits that include:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance Starting Day 1!

• Life Insurance

• Paid Time Off

• Paid Holidays

• Parental Leave

• 401(k) Plan - 3% default contribution plus matching!

• Flexible Spending & Health Saving Accounts

• AD&D Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Tuition Reimbursement

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

****Applicants are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work authorization (e.g. H-1B visa) for this opportunity****

Veolia does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. All vendors must have a current and fully executed MSA on file before submitting candidates. Any unsolicited resumes and candidate profiles will be deemed the property of Veolia, and no fee will be due.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.