Research Scientist - Water Treatment Chemistry at USALCO in Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Job description

• Usalco is seeking a Research Scientist to serve as a senior technical contributor within our R&D organization. This role is ideal for an experienced industrial chemist who thrives in a lab‑based, applied research environment and has a strong track record of originating, leading, and translating research into commercialized water treatment products and process improvements.
• The successful candidate will act as a technical authority in their domain, leading research projects from concept through commercialization and serving as a company‑wide resource for process optimization, troubleshooting, and advanced chemical problem solving.
• The Research Scientist is expected to personally design, run, document, and interpret experiments, not merely direct work performed by others.
• Reporting to: Senior Research Director
• This is an individual contributor role with technical leadership responsibilities and no direct people management.

Responsibilities

• Originate and lead applied research programs aligned with business needs, from early‑stage concept development through laboratory validation, scale‑up support, and product launch/commercialization, with clear ownership to drive projects to achieve defined technical and business goals
• Own project execution by defining workplans, milestones, and deliverables and maintaining timeline accountability typical of an applied R&D organization focused on practical, scalable solutions
• Personally design and execute laboratory experiments, including hands-on bench work, data analysis, documentation, and interpretation involving organic, inorganic and aluminum-based chemistries, with emphasis on water treatment performance, stability, and manufacturability
• Serve as a lead chemist supporting company‑wide process optimization, troubleshooting, and root‑cause analysis across manufacturing sites and customer applications
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior scientists, chemists, and analysts, including experimental design guidance and data interpretation
• Translate fundamental chemistry insights into practical, scalable solutions that improve product performance, reliability, cost, or sustainability
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Operations, Technical Service, Product Management, and Sales to support product launches, customer trials, and technical issue resolution
• Author and review technical documentation, including experimental reports, internal technical guidance, and intellectual property disclosures
• Maintain high standards for laboratory safety, data integrity, and regulatory compliance, consistent with Usalco's safety‑first culture
• Stay current with emerging regulatory drivers and industry trends (e.g., PFAS, DBPs, LCRI) relevant to water treatment chemistry

Requirements

• PhD in Chemistry (or closely related field)
• 5+ years of technical experience in an industrial or applied research environment
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex technical projects with limited supervision
• Strong experimental skills and comfort working in a hands‑on laboratory setting
• Proven record of translating research outcomes into commercial or operational impact
• Experience developing and launching products in the water treatment industry (municipal and/or industrial), including supporting customer trials and commercial readiness
• Willingness and ability to work on‑site at Usalco's Baltimore Research & Development Center
• Familiarity with a formal New Product Development / Stage‑Gate process is preferred
• Deep experience with inorganic and aluminum‑based coagulant chemistries (e.g., PAC, ACH, alum, sodium aluminate); coagulant‑specific chemistry experience is a plus
• Specific experience addressing contaminants of concern in the water treatment industry (e.g., PFAS and related emerging issues) is considered a plus
• Background in inorganic process chemistry and chemical manufacturing considerations
• Experience in municipal or industrial water treatment, including coagulation, contaminant removal, or process optimization
• Familiarity with analytical techniques commonly used in water treatment R&D (e.g., jar testing, ICP‑OES, TOC, UV‑Vis, stability studies)
• Prior experience acting as a technical expert supporting manufacturing plants or customer‑facing teams

Skills

Required

• Hands-on laboratory experimental skills
• On-site work at Baltimore R&D Center

Preferred

• Municipal or industrial water treatment

Benefits

• Work in a modern, well‑equipped R&D facility focused on real‑world impact
• Lead chemistry that directly supports clean water, sustainability, and public health
• Operate on a technical career ladder that values depth, expertise, and influence
• Collaborate with experienced scientists, engineers, and field experts across the organization
• Competitive compensation aligned with senior‑level technical contribution