Lead Chemical Engineer

Lead Chemical Engineer

Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company is seeking a Lead Chemical Engineer to develop and advance differentiated innovations in chemistry, equipment & digital, ultimately driving the global deployment of integrated offerings for advanced water treatment, process optimization, and automation. The successful candidate will effectively operate at the intersection of water treatment chemistry, process engineering, digital systems, data-driven optimization, and customer-facing application development and scale-up.

The selected candidate will lead global innovation projects and technology development across the Global Light Water Division, supporting our Manufacturing, Institutional Water, and Textile Care businesses and customers. This includes exciting applications within the automotive, green energy (for instance, solar & battery), pharma, packaging, and building materials industries, in addition to impacting key customer needs in water safety and water use/reuse.

Cross-functional team collaboration and global communication will be essential for this role. This person will specialize in automation development but will be required to navigate a wide range of technical topics. They will be expected to work closely with marketing and technical support teams to ideate, develop and deliver a portfolio of programs for cooling water, boiler water, pre- and post-treatment as well as process water.

What's in it For You:

• The opportunity to take on some of the world's most meaningful challenges, helping customers achieve clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments
• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives and ideas to achieve our best

What You Will Do:

• Partner with global Marketing, RD&E (Research, Development & Engineering), ITC (Industry Technical Consultants), and business teams to gather customer insights (Voice of Customer).
• Develop and execute a product pipeline for Global Light Water, focusing on automation and digital solutions.
• Drive the execution of the current project portfolio and enforce project management discipline to make sure projects are delivered on time and with quality.
• Collaborate with the collective Global Water RD&E teams, leveraging Naperville and Eagan based Core Chemical Technologies, Water Anchor, as well as Global Analytical and Microbiology capabilities, to accelerate portfolio development.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree in chemical engineering (advanced degree preferred).
• Ph.D. and 2+ years of related industrial experience, M.S. and 4+ years related industrial experience, or B.S. and 6+ years related industrial experience.
• Proven track record of new product launches, creative thinking, and consistent delivery of strategic goals.
• Experience enabling digital and automation program development.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize responsibly, and motivate peers and team members.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and collaborating skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking and leading meetings with internal and external customers.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25%.

• Immigration Sponsorship not available for this position

Preferred Qualifications:

• Automation and water treatment experience

Hands-on experience with:

• Process automation (PLC, SCADA, distributed control systems)
• Sensor integration and real-time monitoring systems
• Data analytics and performance optimization tools

Demonstrated ability to:

• Translate process data into control strategies
• Deploy chemical, equipment & digital solutions in industrial environments

Annual or Hourly Compensation Range

The base salary range for this position is $107,600.00 - $161,500.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus pay based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws.