Process Chemist Team Lead

1d1 day ago

Shell

Deer Park, US · Full-time · $122,000 – $182,000

About this role

The Process Chemist Team Lead supports day-to-day operations and long-term reliability of multiple manufacturing units, including steam cracking (ethylene, propylene, pygas), extractive distillation of butadiene, pygas hydrotreating, alkylation (propylene and benzene), phenol production, and effluent water treatment.

This role demands deep expertise in chemical processes, feedstock variability, impurity management, fouling potential, and product quality assurance, integrating organic and analytical chemistry, process chemistry, reaction engineering, and corrosion science to optimize unit performance at the molecular level.

Collaborate with Production, Process Engineering, Mechanical Integrity, Instrumentation & Control, and Economics & Scheduling teams while serving as Subject Matter Expert for sample station design, product specifications, and analytical methods in the Quality Measurements department supporting all Chemical operations at the Deer Park Site.

Lead a team of Application Specialist and Analytical Chemists, champion safety and compliance, drive ISO-9001 compliance and continuous improvement, and contribute to strategic site initiatives like feedstock flexibility, cost leadership, and molecular optimization.

Requirements

Must have legal authorization to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis
Hands-on experience with unit operations such as distillation, hydrotreating, solvent extraction, and reactors
Proficiency in analytical techniques including GC, GC-MS, HPLC, IC, sulfur speciation, XRF, and titrations
Experience with ISO-9001 systems, audits, and quality management processes
Strong communication and stakeholder management
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing demands
Leadership and mentoring capabilities

Responsibilities

Provide technical support and troubleshooting for production units
Lead investigations into product quality issues and chemistry-related reliability concerns
Support test runs, process optimization efforts, and turnaround planning, including chemical cleaning and decontamination strategies
Serve as Subject Matter Expert for sample station design, product specifications, and analytical methods
Champion safety and compliance in the lab, partnering with Industrial Hygiene and Safety teams
Act as the Product Quality Focal Point for Chemicals
Drive ISO-9001 compliance and continuous improvement initiatives
Supervise and mentor the Application Specialist and Analytical Chemists