R&D Scientist

U.S. Silica is a leading producer of industrial minerals essential to modern life. With $1B+ in annual revenue, 26 production facilities, and industry-leading last-mile logistics for the oil & gas sector, we supply high-quality silica, diatomaceous earth, clay, and other materials to industries ranging from energy and construction to food & beverage.

As a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management, we are positioned for strategic growth in both our Oil & Gas and Industrial segments. For more than 100 years, our products and innovations have helped make the world cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient.

The R&D Scientist is responsible for developing new product offerings for U.S. Silica’s Industrial and Specialty Products Division. More specifically, the individual will utilize the company’s new state-of-the-art innovation center to plan and conduct research projects, generate intellectual property, and lead the progression of R&D projects through US Silica’s innovation pipeline. The R&D Scientist is also expected to provide technical support to the company’s Technical Service groups by conducting routine performance testing and characterization of select products.

The expected travel time to visit select customers, plants, or present technical progress at conferences is 15%.

• Independently design and conduct research experiments in both the laboratory and pilot plant to develop new products
• Perform routine material characterization and performance testing to support technical service requests and new product qualification
• Prepare presentations for the executive, commercial and operations teams on select research projects
• Generate new product/process ideas and submit to innovation pipeline leadership committee for evaluation
• Author invention disclosures and support the patent filing process
• Prepare weekly reports to highlight progress on current projects
• Support and mentor less-experienced colleagues; direct the work of technicians
• Represent the company at major technical forums

• Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or a Doctorate in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Environmental Engineering
• The ideal candidate will possess either a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 5 years of work experience, Master’s Degree with a minimum of 3 years of work experience, or a Doctorate with a minimum of 1 year of work experience
• Strong working knowledge and experience working with inorganic materials and chemical additives
• Experience conducting trials in a laboratory, pilot plant, or plant environment
• Demonstrated creativity and strong problem solving expertise using innovative approaches
• Demonstrated product/process development working directly with customers
• Demonstrated product/process development experience from ideation to commercialization is highly desired
• Strong cross-functional team experience (e.g. working with other scientists, operations, sales and marketing, etc.)
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Self-directed and able to work both independently and as a team member

• R&D experience in either liquid filtration products, heterogenous catalysts, bleaching earths, adsorbents, or water treatment technologies
• Strong proficiency in physical and chemical characterization of inorganic materials (e.g. XRF, XRD, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, TGA, titration of various reagents)
• Track-record of effectively driving a variety of R&D projects to completion and presenting updates to key stakeholders along the way