Senior Chemist - Metalworking Fluid, Product Development and Support

About the role

This position will work in a team environment under the supervision of the Technology Manager, MWF at the New Providence, NJ site. The position will involve occasional travel to customer sites and other Surventis / Chemetall sites for work and/or training. When not engaged in these activities, the position will support work in the New Providence MWF Development Laboratory as part of their responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Formulate and optimize metalworking fluids including semi-synthetics, synthetics, soluble oils and straight oils.
• Evaluate product performance through lab and field testing (e.g., corrosion protection, lubricity, foam control, microbial resistance).
• Identify opportunities for sustainability, cost reduction and performance enhancement.
• Provide advanced technical support to customers, sales teams, and manufacturing operations.
• Analyze field samples and performance data to recommend solutions and improvements.
• Provide support for product trials and troubleshooting at customer sites when needed.
• Lead R&D projects from concept through commercialization, managing timelines and communication throughout the project milestones.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including marketing, regulatory, and operations both locally and globally.
• Mentor junior chemists and contribute to team development and knowledge sharing.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations and any technical documentation related to the position and data that has been gathered.
• Ensure formulations meet performance and regulatory requirements as defined by the project targets.
• Stay current with industry trends, raw material innovations and emerging technologies.
• Work closely with international colleagues in R&D, marketing, and regulatory teams to align product strategies and share technical insights.
• Participate in global technical forums and cross-regional projects to ensure consistency and leverage best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in metalworking fluid formulation and support.
• Strong knowledge of base oils, emulsifiers and additives used in MWFs.
• Familiarity with ASTM, DIN, and other MWF relevant test methods.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication and project management skills.
• Ability to travel occasionally (up to 10%) for customer visits and field support.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with tribology.
• Knowledge of industrial machining processes and equipment.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques such as FTIR, GC-MS, ICP, and HPLC.

Pay

The competitive Pay Range for this role is $76,000 - $115,000. Actual pay will be determined based on education, certifications, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.