Director of Chemistry (Advanced Catalysis & Process Development)

Title: Director of Chemistry (Advanced Catalysis & Process Development)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reporting Line: Chief Technology Officer
Location: San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; or Houston, TX

NES Fircroft is a leading global technical recruitment company providing professional contract and permanent staff to a diverse world-wide client base within the energy industry. Our client, a a pioneering start-up with innovative biotechnology that will create a sustainable pathway for alternative fuels, has a permanent opportunity for a Director of Chemistry (Advanced Catalysis & Process Development) to be based in Chicago, IL, San Diego, CA, Seattle, WA, or Houston, TX.

Position Summary

A venture-backed advanced chemistry organization is seeking a highly experienced Director of Chemistry / Senior Principal Scientist to lead technical development and technology transfer across multiple R&D teams and facilities. This individual will be responsible for advancing a proprietary synthetic chemistry platform, with scope spanning route development, reaction and process optimization, catalyst design, analytical method development, and scale-up readiness.
The role requires deep technical leadership across organic and process chemistry disciplines, as well as the ability to translate laboratory innovation into manufacturable, commercially relevant chemical products through internal manufacturing teams and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, and regulatory compliance across all R&D activities.
• Lead and coordinate chemistry R&D efforts across multiple physical locations.
• Drive development and optimization of synthetic chemistry routes for a proprietary chemistry platform, including discovery-stage and applied research.
• Oversee organic and synthetic reaction discovery leveraging enzymatic or bio-enabled intermediates.
• Guide reaction development across product pathways, including solvent systems, catalysts, reaction conditions, and yield optimization.
• Lead Process Chemistry R&D focused on the design, optimization, and scale-up of catalytic processes, including:
  • Acid/base catalysis
  • Heterogeneous supported-metal and inorganic catalysis
  • Hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation reactions
• Oversee development of analytical methodologies (internally and with partners) to establish robust quantitative understanding of reaction performance.
• Develop testing and characterization protocols for fuels, advanced materials, and other emerging chemical product portfolios.
• Design, test, validate, and identify scale-up partners for novel heterogeneous inorganic catalysts.
• Define long-term research roadmaps and intellectual property strategies to strengthen and defend the core chemistry platform.
• Recruit, mentor, and grow high-performing chemistry teams.
• Lead technology transfer activities to manufacturing organizations and external partners.
• Partner with Project Management and Executive leadership to implement project tracking systems, milestones, and R&D KPIs.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Masters Degree in Chemistry is a minimum.
• Proven experience leading multiple chemistry R&D teams simultaneously.
• Direct experience in discovery and development of synthetic organic chemistry pathways.
• Experience working with enzymes is highly desirable.
• Strong background in process chemistry and reaction optimization.
• Hands-on experience with heterogeneous metal catalysts for hydrogenation and reduction chemistry is a must.
• Experience developing and optimizing acid- and base-catalyzed reactions.
• Experience managing international technical teams and/or external technical partnerships.
• Demonstrated success transitioning batch chemistry to flow or continuous processing.
• Experience taking intermediate reactions, testing properties, to making product samples for customers.
• Expertise in analytical method development and interpretation, including GC-FID, HPLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, NMR, and ICP.
• Demonstrated excellence in laboratory safety and safe handling of hazardous materials.

Working Conditions

• Onsite role, five days per week.
• Work performed in BSL-1 and HazMat laboratory environments involving flammable, corrosive, and hazardous chemicals.
• Domestic and international travel up to approximately 20%.

Why work here

• Growth in a Fast-Paced Environment – Join a pioneering, growing start-up at the forefront of synthetic biology, fuel innovation, and sustainability.
• Be Part of Cutting-Edge Biotech Innovation – Be part of a cutting-edge biotech company engineering enzymes to revolutionize alternative fuel.
• Mission-Driven Impact – Help drive the transition to cleaner, more efficient energy sources by developing breakthrough biotechnologies.
• Collaborative & Inclusive Culture – Work in a team-oriented environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Work with Industry Experts – Engage with top-tier scientists, researchers, and business leaders at the forefront of alternative fuel innovation.
• Competitive Compensation & Benefits – Enjoy market-leading salary packages, comprehensive health benefits, 401(k) match, and more.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.