✨ Our 2026 Hiring Report is out — see what 146,050 job postings say about getting hired.

Read the report →
JOB DETAILS

Sr. R&D Chemist

CompanyAmerican Refining Group Inc.
LocationBradford
Work ModeOn Site
PostedOctober 1, 2026
About The Company
American Refining Group Inc.’s unique facility is situated on approximately 131 acres in Bradford, Pennsylvania, the heart of McKean County and the birthplace of the U.S. domestic oil industry more than 100 years ago. The refinery has a rated capacity of 11,000 barrels per day and processes light, sweet, paraffinic crude oil purchased from sources in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia. American Refining Group stocks are converted into high-quality waxes, lubricant base oils, gasoline and fuels, as well as a wide variety of specialty products. American Refining Group’s state-of-the-art blending and packaging facilities are capable of producing a full spectrum of finished lubricant products deliverable in bulk by rail and truck as well as a broad range of package sizes. In a companywide commitment to quality, ARG's refinery and packaging plant are both ISO 9001:2008 and Made in USA certified, the first refinery to earn the Made in USA distinction.
About the Role


Position Title: Sr. R&D Chemist

 

Compensation: Full-time, Exempt (E51) commensurate with experience. 


Company Information:

ARG is the longest continuously operating refinery in North America dating back to 1881. Privately held, the employees and leadership pride themselves on offering competitive pay, generous benefits and a supportive culture of growth and learning. In addition to a 401k retirement plan to which the company makes matching contributions, ARG offers participation in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to qualified employees, through which they share in the profits of the company.


Scope & Responsibilities of Sr. R&D Chemist: (Not limited to)

  • Designs new products and technology. Creativity and original thought required to develop solutions to problems stated in more general terms. Handles product and technology problems. Makes judgments and recommendations to management.
  • Performs both method development and routine analytical analysis using analytical instrumentation such as: UV Vis, FTIR, HPLC, GC, ED-XRF, and ICP-OES.
  • Maintains analytical instrumentation and calibration/verification of analytical methods.
  • Support analytical instrumentation maintenance in both the R&D and QC labs.
  • Develops and conducts Gage R&R of analytical procedures in both R&D and QC.
  • Interfaces, as required, with the commercial team members and customers.
  • Provides formal presentations of technical projects to senior management.
  • Performs atmospheric and vacuum distillation work to support crude assays.
  • Learns R&D pilot plant operations and performs bench test methods simulating refinery processes.
  • Stays current with new analytical technologies and regularly attends industry-related meetings and seminars.
  • Assists Refinery Process Engineers and Operations in establishing on-line instrumentation.
  • Develops standard operating procedures and provides associated training of the SOPs.
  • Performs product and technology development with some oversight from more senior technical staff. Has more latitude within approved assignments or projects to meet goals and strategies for a work group. Work is typically reviewed by a Manager or more senior chemist.
  • May direct the work of junior technical staff and technicians. Provides some input regarding project direction and resources.
  • Perform other job-related duties as assigned by Supervisor/Management.


Benefits Available to Sr. R&D Chemist:

  • Health Insurance including Medical, Dental, Optical & Prescription
  • Health Savings Accounts & Flexible-Spending Plans (if qualified)
  • Life, Accident and Critical Illness Insurance Options
  • Short & Long-term Disability Coverage
  • Escalating Paid Vacation Plans
  • Paid Holidays & Personal Days
  • Education & Employee Assistance Plans
  • Employee Stock Ownership & 401 (k) Plans


Education & Experience for Sr. R&D Chemist:

  • MS in Chemistry or BS in Chemistry plus 5 years related experience or equivalent
  • Proficient in SPC, analytical instrumental analysis, method development, statistics and/or advanced training in continuous improvement methodology 
  • Strong Computer and Electronics skills, Design of Experiments, Statistics, Method Development, Validation and Documentation. 
  • Ability to perform all R&D chemist I & II duties plus: Identify areas for improvement in the lab.

 

Other Qualifications of Sr. R&D Chemist:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Sample Collection
  • Scientific Testing
  • Test Monitoring
  • Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within field.
  • Successful completion of all company mandated &/or job-related training programs deemed appropriate.

 

Physical & Cognitive Demands of Sr. R&D Chemist:

COGNITIVE DEMANDS: Meet deadlines, focus attention, work independently, independent judgments, work with a team, communicating, reading comprehension, instruct/synthesize, critical thinking/troubleshooting. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: seeing (including colors), speaking, hearing, smelling, sitting, walk/climb, stand/reach, listening, writing. Push/pull/lift/carry 50 pounds. 

 

Additional Notes:

This position, as well as every other position at American Refining Group, is required to conduct their work at a high level of safety and quality performance. We require our employees to adhere to safety policies and procedures and expect they will help and encourage colleagues to do so as well. Our goal is to strive for a Zero-Incident environment that is a benefit to our employees and community. Our commitment to safety is identified as one of our core values: “Safety is our Compass”. Employees are expected to understand and operate under current Process Safety Management guidelines in accordance with their role. Adherence to our Refinery Conduct of Operations in refinery and safety-sensitive functions is critical to our ongoing commitment to reliable operations.

American Refining Group, Inc. executes and maintains an ISO certified Quality Management System to meet specified customer requirements for product performance, safety, and service.
 
Employees are expected to understand and operate under the guidelines of the Quality Management System while executing the functions of their position.

ARG culture promotes ongoing training and mentoring that is intended to be a developmental partnership for all (employees are subject to ongoing performance reviews and feedback).

This is not a job bid - external recruiting is being conducted concurrently with internal posting. Applicant will be selected based on qualifications and a job interview; final selection will rest solely with the Company.

Qualified individuals must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; they are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

 

EEO Employer –ARG is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in our recruiting and employment practices. If assistance is needed to participate in the application or interview process, or to perform essential job functions, please contact Human Resources.

Key Skills
Analytical chemistryMethod developmentInstrumentation maintenanceStatistical process controlDesign of experimentsData analysisTechnical presentationRefinery process supportStandard operating proceduresLaboratory safetyQuality management systemsTroubleshootingProject managementMentoringAtmospheric distillationVacuum distillation
Categories
Science & ResearchEnergyManufacturingEngineering
Benefits
Health insuranceMedical insuranceDental insuranceOptical insurancePrescription insuranceHealth savings accountsFlexible-spending plansLife insuranceAccident insuranceCritical illness insuranceShort-term disability coverageLong-term disability coveragePaid vacationPaid holidaysPersonal daysEducation assistanceEmployee assistance plansEmployee stock ownership plan401k retirement plan
Job Information
📋Core Responsibilities
The Sr. R&D Chemist designs new products and technologies while performing analytical testing and method development using various laboratory instrumentation. The role also involves supporting refinery operations, maintaining quality standards, and providing technical guidance to junior staff.
📋Job Type
full time
📊Experience Level
5-10
💼Company Size
224
📊Visa Sponsorship
No
💼Language
English
🏢Working Hours
40 hours
Apply Now →

You'll be redirected to
the company's application page