Senior R&D Specialist

Your Job

INVISTA is seeking a Senior R&D Specialist - Experimental Operations to join our Katy Technology Center team.

This senior hands-on role will execute and own safe, reliable execution of complex laboratory, pilot-scale, and semi-works campaigns supporting product and process development.

The successful candidate will combine strong operations capability, equipment and controls expertise, disciplined troubleshooting, and a willingness to share knowledge and coach others.

This hourly role follows a 9/80 schedule, offering a balanced work arrangement with every other Friday off.

Our Team

Our team transforms laboratory concepts into larger-scale experimental processes through bench-scale, pilot-scale, and semi-works research.

Scientists and experimental technologists work together to design experiments, build and operate equipment, generate defensible data, troubleshoot process and equipment issues, and develop technologies for scale-up and commercialization.

In this role, you will serve as a senior technical resource for the team-partnering across R&D, analytical, controls, maintenance, EHS, operations, and business functions while providing guidance and knowledge sharing with scientists and technologists.

What You Will Do:


* Execute complex bench-, pilot-, and semi-works experimental campaigns in support of product and process development objectives.


* Translate research objectives into practical experimental plans, equipment configurations, operating procedures, sampling strategies, and success criteria.


* Build, modify, commission, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory and pilot-scale process equipment, instrumentation, and control systems.


* Apply structured problem-solving methodologies to identify and resolve process, equipment, instrumentation, controls, and operating issues while implementing sustainable corrective actions.


* Generate high-quality, defensible experimental data through disciplined execution, sampling, analysis, traceability, and documentation practices.


* Perform and support analytical testing and sample preparation activities using techniques such as GC, LC/HPLC, NMR, and other relevant methods.


* Develop and improve standard work processes, procedures, test plans, troubleshooting guides, equipment documentation, and other knowledge-sharing resources that support repeatable execution.


* Serve as a senior technical resource during experimental readiness reviews, hazard assessments, startup activities, campaign execution, and post-run evaluations.


* Share technical expertise and provide hands-on guidance to scientists and technologists to support safe, effective experimental execution and problem solving.


* Partner with cross-functional teams to improve safety, reliability, maintainability, data quality, throughput, and technology scale-up efforts.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)


* Associate degree or higher in chemistry, chemical technology, pr...