RD&E Group Leader

ChampionX has an immediate opening for a RD&E Group Leader to lead our Materials Compatibility team in Sugar Land, TX.  RD&E Group Leader has a primary responsibility for leading and empowering the team in delivering technical expertise in materials compatibility and failure analysis to our customers and researchers. This is a leadership position with accountability for ensuring team safety, maintaining high standards of quality and productivity, fostering talent development, and managing key stakeholder relationships.

What You Will Do:

In this role as RD&E Group Leader for the Materials Compatibility team, your primary responsibility is to lead and empower your team in delivering technical expertise in materials compatibility and failure analysis to our customers and researchers. This is a leadership position with accountability for ensuring team safety, maintaining high standards of quality and productivity, fostering talent development, and managing key stakeholder relationships.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead the Materials Compatibility team by ensuring all team members perform their duties safely, efficiently, and in alignment with quality standards, while fostering innovation and continuous technical and personal/professional growth.
• Provide subject matter expertise in materials compatibility and failure analysis to support both internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Engage directly with requestors to clarify needs, define project scope, and ensure alignment of expectations.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with team members to support effective and efficient daily operations.
• Recruit, onboard, and train new team members as needed to support team growth and capability development.
• Promote a culture of safety by modeling safe work practices and identifying opportunities for continuous safety improvement.
• Manage multiple projects in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, ensuring timely and high-quality deliverables.
• Actively participate in the broader RD&E community to contribute to business growth and cross-functional collaboration.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related field and 4 years minimum relevant work experience, or M.S. and 6years minimum relevant work experience, or B.S. and 10 years minimum relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated experience with at least one of the following techniques: tensile testing, hardness testing, corrosion rate measurement, high-pressure (up to 2000 psi) and high-temperature (up to 500°F) immersion testing, metallographic failure analysis, or electrochemical methods such as critical pitting temperature and anodic cyclic polarization.
• Proven ability to motivate and lead individuals as part of a high-performing team.
• Strong commitment to safety, including safe handling of chemicals and equipment, and promoting a safe work environment for colleagues and self.
• Excellent time management skills and organizational skills.
• Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, both within and outside the business.
• Proficient knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous supervisory experience is preferred.
• Experience with Specialty Chemicals in the Oil & Gas industry is preferred.

About ChampionX

ChampionX is a global leader in providing chemistry programs and services, drilling technology, artificial lift solutions, and automation technologies for the upstream and midstream oil and gas industry. Our world-class safety culture fuels our purpose to improve lives through our commitment to deliver sustainable operations.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At ChampionX, we believe the best teams are diverse and inclusive, and we are on a journey to create a workplace where every employee can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of employees and applicants. We recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement on the basis of individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.

In addition, we are committed to furthering the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) through Affirmative Action (AA). Our goal is to fully utilize minority, female, disabled and covered veteran individuals at all levels of the workforce. 

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.