Senior Catalyst Activity Characterization Specialist

Job Title: Senior Catalyst Activity Characterization Specialist

Location: United Arab Emirates (Remote)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: 100% Remote — Work From Home

Level: Senior

About the Role

The Senior Catalyst Activity Characterization Specialist provides advanced technical expertise in evaluating catalyst performance, activity, selectivity, stability, and deactivation behaviour across industrial chemical and petrochemical applications. The role focuses on interpreting catalytic testing data, assessing reaction performance, reviewing characterization results, and supporting catalyst development and optimization initiatives. Working entirely remotely, the specialist collaborates with research scientists, process engineers, refinery teams, analytical laboratories, and catalyst manufacturers to ensure reliable technical assessments and evidence-based recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and interpret catalyst activity data generated through laboratory, pilot-scale, and industrial performance evaluations.
• Assess catalyst conversion rates, selectivity, yield, reaction kinetics, and product distribution.
• Evaluate catalyst performance under varying operating conditions, including temperature, pressure, feed composition, and space velocity.
• Analyse catalyst deactivation trends associated with poisoning, fouling, sintering, coking, and structural changes.
• Review characterization data from techniques such as BET surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and temperature-programmed analysis.
• Assess catalyst composition, surface properties, pore structure, active site characteristics, and support material performance.
• Review data from temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), chemisorption, and related analytical methods.
• Evaluate relationships between catalyst physicochemical properties and observed reaction performance.
• Compare catalyst formulations, material batches, and supplier products against defined technical specifications.
• Support catalyst screening, benchmarking, and performance optimization through structured data analysis.
• Review laboratory and pilot-scale test protocols for technical consistency, completeness, and alignment with applicable standards.
• Investigate unexpected activity changes, selectivity deviations, and inconsistencies in catalyst performance reports.
• Assess catalyst regeneration and reuse data, including performance recovery and changes in material characteristics.
• Coordinate remotely with laboratory personnel to clarify analytical results and recommend further characterization where required.
• Prepare catalyst performance assessments, technical reports, trend analyses, and recommendations for research and operational teams.
• Support catalyst qualification and technical evaluations for refining, petrochemical, environmental, and industrial chemical applications.
• Review quality-control documentation, calibration records, test traceability, and measurement uncertainty assessments.
• Contribute to improvements in catalyst testing procedures, analytical data management, and performance evaluation frameworks.
• Maintain structured records of catalyst assessments, test results, technical findings, and recommended corrective actions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Catalysis, or a related discipline; a master's degree or PhD is an advantage.
• Significant experience in catalyst characterization, catalytic reaction testing, chemical process development, or industrial catalyst evaluation.
• Strong understanding of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, reaction mechanisms, and catalyst performance principles.
• Knowledge of catalyst activity, selectivity, conversion, yield, kinetics, and deactivation mechanisms.
• Experience interpreting catalyst characterization data from BET, XRD, SEM, TEM, TPR, TPD, and chemisorption techniques.
• Understanding of catalyst support materials, active phases, promoters, surface area, porosity, and pore distribution.
• Familiarity with catalyst applications in refining, petrochemicals, hydrogen production, emissions control, or industrial chemical processing.
• Experience reviewing laboratory and pilot-scale reactor performance data.
• Knowledge of experimental design, test repeatability, measurement uncertainty, and analytical quality assurance.
• Familiarity with relevant ASTM, ISO, and recognized laboratory testing practices.
• Understanding of laboratory quality management principles, including ISO/IEC 17025.
• Strong analytical reasoning, statistical interpretation, and technical report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in spreadsheets, scientific data analysis software, and technical documentation systems.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Ability to manage technical reviews and collaborate with geographically distributed teams in a fully remote environment.

What We Offer

• Fully remote working arrangement within the stated UAE job location.
• Full-time senior technical role focused on catalyst performance and characterization.
• Opportunities to contribute to catalyst development, qualification, and industrial process optimization.
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary research, engineering, laboratory, and manufacturing teams.
• Professional development in catalysis science, analytical methodologies, and industrial chemical technologies.

How to Apply

Submit your updated CV and a cover letter highlighting your experience in catalyst characterization, catalytic activity testing, analytical techniques, and chemical process performance evaluation.

Application Subject: Application – Senior Catalyst Activity Characterization Specialist (UAE Remote)

• Important: This is a 100% remote technical review, analytical data interpretation, documentation, and coordination role. Physical catalyst sampling, sample preparation, chemical handling, laboratory experiments, reactor operation, instrument operation, and equipment calibration must be performed by qualified local personnel at appropriately equipped facilities. The specialist provides remote technical oversight and recommendations and does not replace on-site laboratory or process personnel. Hazardous material handling, formal process approvals, regulatory submissions, certifications, and legally required technical sign-offs must be completed by appropriately qualified or authorized personnel. Candidates should confirm applicable employment arrangements, residency requirements, and work authorization before accepting an offer.