Senior Elastomer Chemist - Science and Engineering

About the Role

The Senior Elastomer Chemist will serve as a subject matter expert for elastomeric and thermoplastic materials used in oil and gas products, with emphasis on downhole and surface sealing systems exposed to high pressure, high temperature, low temperature, sour gas, hydraulic fluids, produced fluids, completion fluids, rapid gas decompression, and high-pressure gas environments. This role supports the full product lifecycle, including material selection, formulation review, seal design support, supplier qualification, manufacturing process control, qualification testing, field performance evaluation, failure analysis, customer support, and standards compliance. The candidate must connect polymer chemistry, compound formulation, processing, mechanical properties, and seal design requirements to practical oilfield product performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead selection, evaluation, and qualification of elastomers, thermoplastics, adhesives, bonded assemblies, backup materials, and other non-metallic sealing components for severe-service oilfield applications.
• Review elastomer formulations and ingredient effects, assessing impact on hardness, tensile properties, elongation, modulus, tear resistance, compression set, chemical compatibility, aging resistance, RGD resistance, extrusion resistance, bonding, and sealability.
• Provide material, design, and application guidance for various sealing systems, including O-rings, T-seals, packing elements, V-packing/chevron seals, bonded seals, backup rings, and molded sealing elements.
• Develop and execute qualification plans for extreme environments, including temperature, pressure, fluid exposure, thermal cycling, and rapid gas decompression.
• Apply and ensure compliance with relevant industry standards (API, ISO, NORSOK, ASTM, NACE/AMPP) and test methods.
• Support manufacturing processes, troubleshoot issues, and write/maintain technical documentation, including specifications, test methods, and reports.
• Lead failure analysis, root-cause investigations, and corrective action recommendations for field, qualification, manufacturing, and supplier issues.
• Mentor junior chemists, materials engineers, and lab technicians; provide senior technical input to cross-functional teams and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience with elastomers, polymers, thermoplastics, or non-metallic materials in severe-service applications (oil and gas, energy, chemical processing, aerospace, etc.).
• Demonstrated expertise in elastomer chemistry, compound formulation, material selection, testing, and qualification.
• Direct experience with oilfield sealing systems and rapid gas decompression (RGD) mechanisms.
• Working knowledge of ASTM test methods and relevant industry standards (API, NORSOK, ISO, NACE/AMPP).
• Strong understanding of elastomer and thermoplastic manufacturing processes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, communicate effectively, and make sound technical recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 12 to 15+ years of experience with elastomers and thermoplastics in oilfield or severe-service applications.
• Direct experience in upstream Oil and Gas services (well construction, completion, production).
• Hands-on experience qualifying elastomers to NORSOK M-710, ISO 23936, API 6A Annex F, or equivalent standards.
• Experience with sour service and aggressive media (H2S, CO2, hydrocarbons, brines, amines, etc.).
• Familiarity with analytical methods (FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA, SEM/EDS, rheometry) and high-performance materials (HNBR, FKM, PEEK, PTFE, etc.).
• Participation in industry standards organizations (API, ISO, NORSOK, ASTM, NACE/AMPP) and experience with API Q1 or ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Customer-facing technical experience, including failure reviews, qualification reviews, and supplier technical reviews.

About Us

Weatherford is a leading global energy services company. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. We are focused on technology development, digital solutions, and defining our footprint in the new energy space. Our ability to provide integrated solutions across our segments is critical to growth in our core operations and the energy transition. We operate across the global energy landscape, employing diverse talent to create solutions that enhance safety, streamline operations, and sustain uptime. At Weatherford, we celebrate diversity, foster a collaborative community, and empower our team to make an impact on the industry and the world.