Research Chemist

At Air Products, our purpose is to bring people together to reimagine what’s possible, collaborate and innovate solutions to the world’s most significant energy and environmental sustainability challenges. Grow with us as we embark on building tomorrow together by being the safest, most diverse and most profitable industrial gas company in the world.  

Reimagine What’s Possible 

The Air Separation Technology team provides technical expertise in the field of oxygen, nitrogen and rare gases' production with the added mission of innovating new technologies that improve cost competitiveness, efficiency, productivity and/or on-stream availability of Air Products’ offerings. A secondary purpose of the team is to provide high level support and troubleshooting capabilities for our operating plants. The team comprises of a diverse & inclusive set of individuals who look to deliver driven cryogenic technology, adsorbent technology, materials chemistry, and vessel/equipment design advancements for all our products, including distillation column design, structured packing, heat exchangers, reboilers, and column internals. The research engineers in the team display strong interpersonal skills and work together with the entire Air Separation Technology and Product Line teams to deliver full plant solutions from the laboratory to the field.

This position requires a research chemist with a strong background in experimental design and materials/process chemistry. The candidate will need to work with the Product Line, Conceptual Engineering, and other Technology organizations to develop novel and often, patentable process and materials chemistry (development, optimization and scale up) used in Air Separation plants and Hydrogen technologies to either progress into a product offering or implement immediately in a project. This role requires the candidate to have innovative and out-of-the-box thinking to generate differentiating and valuable ideas. The role also requires good organizational skills and team in driving development efforts towards completion using the thorough stage-gate approach. This role also requires the candidate to efficiently develop university/industrial partnerships as means to further develop materials of interest. Additionally, the role requires strong thermodynamic and chemistry of materials fundamentals and a sense of practicality to guide idea screening and technology development. The successful candidate needs to be comfortable with ambiguity and complexity, have a positive demeanor, and be self-motivated with a strong sense of project ownership.

What's In It for You:

At Air Products we further a culture of inclusion where every voice is heard, and everyone feels they belong and matter. Additionally, we offer competitive pay and great benefits for our employees. Check out some of our benefits below!

• Affordable Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (day 1 of employment)
• 401k with 100% vested company core and match
• Paid Vacation, holidays + sick time
• Paid Parental leave (Up to 8 weeks)
• Backup Child and Adult Care benefit
• Adoption assistance
• Flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent daycare)
• Life Insurance (AD&D- Paid for by Air Products), Supplemental AD&D
• Legal Plan & Identity theft coverage
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Many more supplemental benefits available

Nature and Scope:

• This is an individual contributor technologist role with a focus of materials/process chemistry and new technology development for a variety of air separation and hydrogen technologies which may include adsorbent development, adsorption-based process cycles, electrolysis/electrochemistry, ammonia cracking, hydrogen liquefaction, Partial Oxidation (POx), Auto-thermal Reforming (ATR), Carbon Collection Utilization and Storage (CCS) applications. We will look to this technologist to provide leadership in materials chemistry related processes across the Technology Organization. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience in designing and optimizing process chemistry solutions using experimental and or/theoretical approaches utilizing an appropriate combination of absorption, adsorption, reaction and heat exchange unit operations. Prior experience in design and characterization of new materials, scale-up, and troubleshooting of air separation/hydrogen production processes, although not required, can be a desirable differentiating qualification.

Skills and Abilities:

• Deliver all objectives safely and achieve 100% compliance with Air Products’ safety requirements.
• Drive competitiveness of Air Separation products by developing, leading, and delivering new or improved technology offerings.
• Drive competitiveness of Green and Blue Hydrogen products by innovating, developing and leading new or improved technology offerings.
• Evaluate new insights, processes and technologies based on applicability, CAPEX, OPEX and return on investment.
• For ideas evaluated to be promising, develop a reason, capture support, progress the concept rigorously through the stage gate process and drive it to conclusion/implementation.
• File patent applications, if appropriate, to support our new technology development efforts. Maintain awareness of current driven activities and the state of the development of new air separation/hydrogen production related materials by outside entities.
• Work with the Product Line, other Technology organizations, procurement, and operations organizations to facilitate commercialization of new technology in the field.
• Work with Technology Manager to assess new material development/technology risks and mitigations to support the needs of newly commercialized air separation/ hydrogen-based offerings.

Minimum Hiring Requirements:

• PhD in Materials Chemistry or any Chemistry related field.
• Prior experience in air separation and hydrogen production processes a plus.
• 5-10 years’ experience performing experimental design and scale-up activities related to materials development.
• Familiarity with reaction, adsorbents, electrochemical, solid-state, or cryogenic principles and operations a plus
• Proven prior experience in developing novel processes as evidenced by patent applications or granted patents.
• Proven track record of commercializing novel technologies is a strong plus.
• Strong inter-personal skills & ability to function well in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Track record of safety in a laboratory or plant environment.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and project management skills.
• Ability to collaborate optimally with team members in remote locations.

Join Air Products, where we proudly value the skills, dedication, and leadership that veterans offer. As a veteran-friendly organization, we actively encourage and welcome veterans to apply for various roles within our company. We recognize the unique strengths and experiences that veterans supply, and we feed a workplace that honors your service while providing a platform for professional growth.

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We are the world’s largest hydrogen producer with over 80 years of industrial gas experience. We are hydrogen and industrial gas experts delivering safe, end-to-end solutions, investing in real, clean energy projects at scale, and driving the industry forward to generate a cleaner future. 

At Air Products, we work in an environment where we put safety first, diversity is essential, inclusion is our culture, and each person knows they belong and matter. To learn more, visit About Air Products. 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays and vacation, affordable medical, dental, life insurance and retirement plans. You will be eligible for benefits and also be 100% vested in your retirement benefits on your first day of employment.  
  
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (U.S.).  You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, citizenship, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or veteran status.  

Air Products is committed to working with and providing a reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail us at talent@airproducts.com. General application status inquiries are not answered by this mailbox rather you’ll receive an e-mail directly from our Career Center and/or the Talent Acquisition Specialist.