LocationHouston, TX
Total RewardsWe offer comprehensive total rewards packages including base pay, variable incentive programs, 401K, medical, dental, vision, life & disability and variety of well-being resources that meet the needs of our diverse workforce. Union benefits are governed by the applicable collective bargaining unit agreement.
$75,217.47 - $94,021.84
Vibrantz is committed to maintaining pay transparency in accordance with applicable laws and best practices. Compensation for this position will be determined based on a combination of factors, including education, professional certifications, relevant experience, and other job-related considerations permitted by law.
Role OverviewThe R&D Engineer, Energy leads product development initiatives focused on drilling fluids and additives for oil and gas applications. This role develops new products, identifies market opportunities, and provides technical expertise to support customer requirements and product performance. The position coordinates laboratory activities, product development and scale-up projects, and cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, and customers. Success in this role requires strong technical knowledge of drilling fluids, research and development capabilities, and effective project management and communication skills.
Key Responsibilities- Develop new drilling fluids products and additives by collaborating with engineers, Sales, and customers to address technical requirements and emerging market opportunities.
- Identify unmet market needs and potential product development opportunities to strengthen the R&D pipeline and support new product innovation.
- Plan and supervise laboratory activities, provide technical direction to technicians, and develop testing procedures to support product development, raw material qualification, and scale-up initiatives.
- Support manufacturing and process engineering projects by collaborating with Operations and Engineering teams to improve production yields, product performance, and profitability.
- Provide advanced technical support to customers and internal stakeholders, including product expertise, technical evaluations, project updates, and communication of development results.
- Manage R&D project activities, timelines, experimental documentation, and technical reports while maintaining laboratory organization, equipment practices, and established quality and safety procedures.
Required Qualifications- Education: Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Experience: 5+ years of experience in drilling fluids and/or drilling fluid additives, with strong knowledge of drilling fluid applications across different formations.
- Previous laboratory and product development experience, including familiarity with laboratory equipment, testing practices, and established safety procedures.
- Experience using project management software or systems to plan experiments, manage project activities, and document and analyze results.
- Strong technical documentation, reporting, and communication capabilities to support research projects and cross-functional collaboration.
Preferred Qualifications- 8+ years of R&D experience in drilling fluids, cementing, and production chemicals.
- Laboratory management experience, including procedure development and implementation of laboratory safety practices.
- Experience collaborating closely with manufacturing operations.
- Established relationships within the drilling fluids industry and experience delivering technical presentations to customers or business partners.
