R&D Principal Chemist

R&D Principal Chemist

Ecolab

Oegstgeest, Netherlands

Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company, is seeking an experienced and motivated chemist to join our innovation efforts and support our customers in the Global High Tech (GHT) industry. We are establishing a dedicated EU GHT RD&E team in Leiden, the Netherlands. The Principal Chemist will primarily be responsible for contributing to the development and/or deployment of innovative water treatment technologies that prevent scale and corrosion in cooling water applications. The role will also encompass customer (field/application) support for industrial cooling water applications. We are seeking a candidate with a strong technical background who is self-motivated, has a desire for collaboration and is a creative problem solver.

The main responsibilities of the role are to:

• Lead and/or collaborate in innovation development and deployment of products that prevent scale and corrosion in different cooling water applications;
• Provide customer support to cooling water field applications in the context of corrosion and scale prevention and control as well as product line support for the GHT cooling water portfolio.

This involves:

• Being a key technical contributor on multiple, projects by leading and conducting both lab and field tests, ensuring that data is analyzed, documented and results communicated in a clear and concise manner;
• Support and contribute to the development of the application guidelines and operational windows for new products and/or technologies;
• Collaborating with a global team, various functions on the development of technologies that meet customer needs;
• Provide insight on technical hurdles or risks in innovation development and brainstorm approaches and strategies to overcome the hurdles;
• Identifying and understanding customer needs and challenges within cooling water applications within the global high tech industry (through field visits, engagement with customers and industry experts) and using these learnings and experience to build the EU innovation roadmap;
• Provide advanced technical support to sales and customers which includes but not limited to, application guidance, technical exchange, trouble-shooting, field visits etc.

Qualifications and experience:

• BSC in Chemistry or related with ideally > 5 years of industry experience;
• Masters in Chemistry or related with ideally >3 years of industry experience;
• Ph.D in Chemistry or related with ideally >1 years of industry experience;
• Knowledge of and/or Industry experience in cooling water treatment (closed loop, open-recirculating systems);
• Knowledge of either materials science, corrosion, formulations, electrochemistry is an advantage;
• Experience in the Global High Tech industry (and associated cooling technologies such as Direct to Chip cooling, Adiabatic) is an advantage;
• Self-starter with great initiative and ‘hands-on’ approach;
• Good communication skills; with the ability to deliver complex information in an easy-to-understand format;
• Creative problem-solving skills;
• Proficiency in English (both written and verbal) required;
• Willingness and ability to travel 10-20 % of the time.