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Catalyst Chemist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Susteon

Catalysis Scientist

Morrisville, NC · On-site

PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Materials Science with 4+ years of heterogeneous catalyst R&D experience. MS with 8+ years of directly relevant industrial or national-lab experience also ...

G-TECH Services

Be Seen First

Propulsion/Emissions Systems Engineer

Dearborn, MI · On-site

$40 - $45/hr

... catalyst chemistry. · Demonstrated experience with 1D modeling tools and methodology. (e.g., GT-Suite, MATLAB/Simulink) Company Description Why work at G-Tech? G-Tech is a woman-owned company that ...

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Catalyst Chemist information

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How much do catalyst chemist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for catalyst chemist in the United States is $30.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.04 and $35.58 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some of the typical challenges faced by Catalyst Chemists when developing new catalysts for industrial applications?

Catalyst Chemists often encounter challenges such as optimizing catalyst performance for specific reactions, ensuring stability and selectivity under industrial conditions, and scaling up laboratory results to full production levels. Balancing activity, cost, and environmental impact while adhering to strict safety protocols is also a common hurdle. These challenges require close collaboration with process engineers, analytical chemists, and production teams to iterate and refine catalyst formulations for real-world use.

What are catalyst chemists?

Catalyst chemists are scientists who specialize in designing, developing, and optimizing chemical catalysts—substances that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. They work in laboratories to study how catalysts function and apply their knowledge to improve industrial processes, such as refining fuels, creating pharmaceuticals, or producing environmentally friendly materials. Catalyst chemists often collaborate with engineers and other scientists to develop innovative solutions that make chemical reactions more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Catalyst Chemist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Catalyst Chemist, you need a strong background in chemistry or chemical engineering, typically with a bachelor's or advanced degree, and expertise in catalysis and reaction mechanisms. Familiarity with analytical instruments such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and specialized software for chemical modeling is often required. Critical thinking, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration skills help Catalyst Chemists excel in research and development environments. These skills ensure the safe and efficient development of catalysts that improve chemical processes and drive innovation in various industries.

What is the difference between Catalyst Chemist vs Chemical Engineer?

AspectCatalyst ChemistChemical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry or Chemical ScienceBachelor's or Master's in Chemical Engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D departments, catalyst development facilitiesManufacturing plants, process design, plant operations
Industry UsageFocus on catalyst formulation, testing, and optimizationDesigning and optimizing chemical processes and plant systems
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for roles in research and developmentCompared for process design and plant management roles

While both Catalyst Chemists and Chemical Engineers work within the chemical industry, Catalyst Chemists primarily focus on developing and testing catalysts in research settings. Chemical Engineers, on the other hand, design and optimize chemical processes for large-scale production. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify the right career path based on their skills and interests.

More about Catalyst Chemist jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Catalyst Chemist jobs? The most popular types of Catalyst Chemist jobs are:
What states have the most Catalyst Chemist jobs? States with the most job openings for Catalyst Chemist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Catalyst Chemist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Catalyst Chemist jobs are:
Catalyst Chemist jobs near you

Process Engineer - Fluid Catalytic Cracking - Refinery Experience Only

Aramco

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Aramco energizes the world economy.

Aramco occupies a special position in the global energy industry. We are one of the world’s largest producers of hydrocarbon energy and chemicals, with among the lowest Upstream carbon intensities of any major producer.

With our significant investment in technology and infrastructure, we strive to maximize the value of the energy we produce for the world along with a commitment to enhance Aramco’s value to society.

Headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and with offices around the world, we combine market discipline with a generations’ spanning view of the future, born of our nine decades experience as responsible stewards of the Kingdom’s vast hydrocarbon resources. This responsibility has driven us to deliver significant societal and economic benefits to not just the Kingdom, but also to a vast number of communities, economies, and countries that rely on the vital and reliable energy that we supply.

We are one of the most profitable companies in the world, as well as amongst the top five global companies by market capitalization.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Downstream Process Engineer with extensive hands-on expertise in Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) processes to join the Downstream Operation Engineering Solutions Department (OESD).

OESD's technical team provides high-quality, multi-disciplinary support to Global Manufacturing operating facilities (Refineries, NGLF, and petrochemical plants) within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and globally.

Your primary role is to provide in-depth process engineering and operations expertise to monitor, optimize, and drive performance improvement programs for refineries' FCC, including both remote and on-site technical advisory support, benchmarking, and technology knowledge management.

Key Responsibilities

As the successful candidate you will be required to perform the following:

  • Conduct comprehensive performance reviews of existing FCC units, analyzing KPIs related to yield, operability, profitability, reliability, and process safety. Develop and present quarterly benchmarking reports with actionable improvement recommendations.
  • Provide hands-on technical support in implementing performance improvement initiatives, demonstrating measurable results in closing identified gaps from quarterly benchmarking reports.
  • Lead benchmarking and best practices exchange workshops among Global Manufacturing facilities (wholly-owned and affiliates), facilitating knowledge sharing and continuous improvement in FCC technologies.
  • Deliver on-demand remote and field technical advisory support, including troubleshooting, optimization, debottlenecking, revamp, and upgrade activities for FCC units. Provide detailed service reports for each support activity.
  • Drive performance improvement programs that enhance process safety, optimize manufacturing costs, and increase FCC unit reliability and yield.
  • Develop and implement best practices and standards for FCC engineering and maintenance, ensuring alignment with industry standards and regulations.
  • Provide expert technical support to project teams and contractors for FCC engineering and procurement activities.
  • Coordinate with other disciplines (mechanical, instrumentation, and electrical) to ensure optimal performance and integration of FCC equipment.
  • Conduct regular audits and inspections of FCC equipment to ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality regulations and standards.
  • Evaluate and recommend new technologies and innovations for FCC improvement and optimization, including catalyst developments and advanced control strategies.
  • Prepare and update technical documentation and reports for FCC engineering and operation.
  • Participate in business plan development and coordinate with stakeholders for capital investments in FCC facilities.
  • Facilitate technical knowledge exchange workshops with FCC process technology licensors and Global Manufacturing facilities.
  • Develop and deliver in-house technical training programs on FCC operations and optimization to Global Manufacturing facilities as needed.
  • Participate in incident investigation activities concerning FCC process technologies as required by operating facilities.
Minimum Requirements
  • You must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. An advanced degree is preferred.
  • You should have a minimum of 15 years of experience in refinery operations, with at least 10 years of hands-on experience specifically in FCC operations and optimization.
  • Demonstrated ability to optimize FCC operations, with specific examples of performance improvements achieved (e.g., yield improvements, energy savings, reliability enhancements).
  • Comprehensive knowledge of FCC processes, equipment, and systems, including regenerator operations, catalyst management, and product fractionation.
  • Deep understanding of FCC catalyst chemistry and selection criteria for various feedstocks.
  • Expertise in FCC troubleshooting, including analysis of operational issues such as afterburn, catalyst circulation problems, and product quality deviations.
  • Proficiency in process simulation software specific to FCC modeling (e.g., Aspen HYSYS, KBC Petro-SIM).
  • Strong knowledge of refinery economics and the impact of FCC performance on overall refinery profitability.
  • Familiarity with relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., API, ASME) applicable to FCC units.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare and present technical reports to various audiences, including senior management.
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Experience in mentoring junior engineers and operators in FCC operations and optimization techniques.
  • As the ideal candidate, you will have a proven track record of optimizing Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) operations in refinery and petrochemical plant settings.
Work Location and Work Schedule

Work location: Within Saudi Arabia – To be specified in Job offer

Work schedule: Full Time - To be specified in Job offer

Job Posting Duration

Job posting start date: 02/12/2026

Job posting end date: 12/31/2026

Working environment

Our high-performing employees are drawn by the challenging and rewarding professional, technical and industrial opportunities we offer, and are remunerated accordingly.

At Aramco, our people work on truly world-scale projects, supported by investment in capital and technology that is second to none. And because, as a global energy company, we are faced with addressing some of the world’s biggest technical, logistical and environmental challenges, we invest heavily in talent development.

We have a proud history of educating and training our workforce over many decades. Employees at all levels are encouraged to improve their sector-specific knowledge and competencies through our workforce development programs – one of the largest in the world.

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