Senior R&D Specialist

Your Job INVISTA is seeking a Senior R&D Specialist – Experimental Operations to join our Katy Technology Center team. This senior hands-on role will execute and own safe, reliable execution of complex laboratory, pilot-scale, and semi-works campaigns supporting product and process development. The successful candidate will combine strong operations capability, equipment and controls expertise, disciplined troubleshooting, and a willingness to share knowledge and coach others.

This hourly role follows a 9/80 schedule, offering a balanced work arrangement with every other Friday off. Our Team Our team transforms laboratory concepts into larger-scale experimental processes through bench-scale, pilot-scale, and semi-works research. Scientists and experimental technologists work together to design experiments, build and operate equipment, generate defensible data, troubleshoot process and equipment issues, and develop technologies for scale-up and commercialization.

In this role, you will serve as a senior technical resource for the team—partnering across R&D, analytical, controls, maintenance, EHS, operations, and business functions while providing guidance and knowledge sharing with scientists and technologists.

What You Will Do

Execute complex bench-, pilot-, and semi-works experimental campaigns in support of product and process development objectives. Translate research objectives into practical experimental plans, equipment configurations, operating procedures, sampling strategies, and success criteria. Build, modify, commission, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory and pilot-scale process equipment, instrumentation, and control systems.

Apply structured problem-solving methodologies to identify and resolve process, equipment, instrumentation, controls, and operating issues while implementing sustainable corrective actions. Generate high-quality, defensible experimental data through disciplined execution, sampling, analysis, traceability, and documentation practices.

Perform and support analytical testing and sample preparation activities using techniques such as GC, LC/HPLC, NMR, and other relevant methods. Develop and improve standard work processes, procedures, test plans, troubleshooting guides, equipment documentation, and other knowledge-sharing resources that support repeatable execution.

Serve as a senior technical resource during experimental readiness reviews, hazard assessments, startup activities, campaign execution, and post-run evaluations. Share technical expertise and provide hands-on guidance to scientists and technologists to support safe, effective experimental execution and problem solving.

Partner with cross-functional teams to improve safety, reliability, maintainability, data quality, throughput, and technology scale-up efforts.

Who You Are

(Basic Qualifications) Associate degree or higher in chemistry, chemical technology, process technology, engineering technology, chemical engineering, or another relevant technical experience. 5+ years of relevant hands-on experience in chemical R&D, process development, pilot-plant operations, polymer processing, manufacturing support, or a related technical environment.

Experience building, operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining laboratory, pilot-scale, or process equipment and instrumentation. Experience using structured problem-solving methods to diagnose process, equipment, instrumentation, or controls issues and implement effective corrective actions. What Will Put You Ahead 8+ years of relevant hands-on experience in chemical R&D, process development, pilot-plant operations, polymer processing, manufacturing support, or a related technical environment.

Experience supporting complex experimental work from planning and equipment readiness through execution, troubleshooting, documentation, and communication of results. Experience leading MOC, PSSR, equipment-readiness, root-cause analysis, reliability improvement, or technology-transfer activities. Advanced hands-on experience with glassware systems, Swagelok-style tubing and fittings, pressure systems, autoclaves, DCS interfaces, extrusion systems, feeders, or pelletizing equipment.

Demonstrated experience coaching, training, or mentoring early-career technical personnel in safe work practices, experimental execution, documentation, and problem solving. This role is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.