Ohr Jobs in Usa

Company Description

OHR uses primordial chemistry and synthetic biology to fashion strategic chemicals. Our technology enables the creation of carbon chains of deterministic length without cells, co-factors, or typical oil contaminants. With a core value of sustainability, OHR is focused on building resilient supply chains through innovative solutions.

Role Description

OHR Synbiosis seeks R&D Chemists & Scientists to drive technical developments across R&D groups and between the broader OHR organization. The candidates will design, execute, and lead experiences in synthetic chemistry routes of OHR's Creationary ChemistryTM platform, including organic chemistry synthetic pathway exploration and discovery, reaction process optimization, catalyst development, analytical methodologies, product application, and external technical partnership management.

Responsibilities

• Exemplify excellence in lab safety and chemical hygiene practices.
• Perform research and development on OHR's Creationary ChemistryTM platform across multiple physical locations. Be an anchor in the drive to deliver critical chemicals to public and private customers in need.
• Design and discover organic and synthetic chemistry reactions to create novel synthetic routes leveraging OHR's proprietary enzymatic intermediates.
• Guide chemical reaction development across product pathways, including solvent selection, catalyst elucidation/optimization, reaction conditions, etc.
• Design, optimize, and scale catalytic processes, including acid/base catalysis, heterogenous supported-metal and inorganic catalysis, hydrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation.
• Develop analytical methodologies, in-house and with partners, to build quantitative standing of chemical reactions.
• Build testing and characterization protocols for OHR's aviation and aerospace fuel product portfolio and additional proprietary emerging product portfolios.
• Design, test, validate, and find partners to scale novel heterogenous inorganic catalysts.
• Contribute to research and IP strategies solidify the Creationary ChemistryTM platform.
• Draft, optimize, publish, and train colleagues on technical procedures and specialized reactions.
• Provide detailed data and protocols for technology transfer to OHR's Manufacturing team and external partners.
• With Project Managers and Executives, implement project managements systems to track Chemistry R&D developments and KPIs..

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry, or equivalent area, from an accredited university.
• Master's of Science or PhD in Chemistry preferred.
• Exemplary past demonstration of lab and workplace safety.
• Direct experience contributing to technical chemistry research and development teams.
• Direct experience contributing to discovery of synthetic chemistry pathways.
• Direct experience contributing to process chemistry and reaction optimization.
• Direct experience exploring and selecting or synthesizing and evaluating heterogenous metal catalysts for hydrogenation and reduction chemistry.
• Direct experience discovering or optimizing acid and based catalyzed reactions.
• Direct experience managing development of analytical methods of compound identification and quantification, including utilization of GC-FID, HPLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, NMR, and ICP.
• Experience working with international technical teams or technical partnerships.
• Direct hands-on experience converting established batch reactions to flow/continuous reactions.
• Ability to control ITAR and Export Compliance restricted information.

About OHR

OHR is pioneering a new era of chemical manufacturing built on Creationary Chemistry™, a platform that merges biological intelligence with primordial chemistry to create essential molecules in ways that are cleaner, smarter, and independent from traditional oil-based supply chains. We design and scale chemistry that matters most, delivering strategic chemicals with deterministic carbon chains and minimal contaminants, strengthening industrial resilience and global sovereignty. Our work spans advanced synthetic pathways, catalysis, and scalable process design, with real-world impact across fuels, materials, and critical industrial sectors

At OHR, chemistry isn’t a support function, it’s a creative engine. We’re building the Creationary Chemistry™ platform to unlock new ways of making critical molecules the world depends on, from aerospace and aviation fuels to emerging, proprietary materials that don’t exist yet.

We’re looking for a Director of our Chemistry R&D Platform who wants to shape how chemistry is invented, scaled, and transferred into the real world. This role sits at the intersection of discovery, process design, catalysis, and manufacturing, leading teams across locations and translating bold ideas into robust, scalable chemistry.

If you’re energized by hard problems, cross-disciplinary teams, and the responsibility of turning fundamental chemistry into deployed technology, you’ll feel at home here.

You’ll own the chemistry vision and execution for OHR’s Creationary Chemistry™ platform, from early reaction discovery to pilot- and manufacturing-ready processes.

Core responsibilities include:

• Setting the technical direction for synthetic and process chemistry across multiple OHR R&D sites

• Driving discovery of novel organic and synthetic reaction pathways that leverage OHR’s proprietary enzymatic intermediates

• Leading reaction and process development, including solvent systems, catalysts, kinetics, and operating conditions

• Designing, optimizing, and scaling catalytic processes (acid/base catalysis, heterogeneous supported-metal and inorganic catalysis, hydrogenation, hydrodeoxygenation, and related systems)

• Developing, testing, and scaling novel heterogeneous inorganic catalysts, including identifying and managing external partners

• Overseeing analytical strategy and method development (internally and with partners) to quantitatively understand and optimize reactions

• Building testing and characterization protocols for aviation, aerospace, and emerging OHR product portfolios

• Translating lab-scale chemistry into manufacturable processes through close collaboration with Manufacturing and external partners

• Defining long-term research roadmaps and IP strategies to strengthen and defend the Creationary Chemistry™ platform

• Recruiting, mentoring, and growing a world-class chemistry team

• Partnering with Project Management and Executive leadership to track R&D progress, milestones, and KPIs

• Setting the standard for lab safety, chemical hygiene, and responsible research practices

You’ve been in the trenches, and you know how to lead others there thoughtfully. 

You have a builder mindset, this role is for someone who wants to build, not just manage. You’re comfortable operating without established playbooks, motivated by ambiguity, and energized by creating systems, technical, organizational, and cultural—from the ground up.

You may be coming from a large industrial, energy, or chemical organization, but you’re ready to trade established infrastructure for speed, ownership, and real technical influence. 

At OHR, leaders are hands-on, decisive, and deeply engaged in the work they lead.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in Chemistry or a closely related field

• A demonstrated record of excellence in laboratory safety and chemical hygiene

• Experience leading multiple chemistry R&D teams simultaneously

• Deep hands-on experience with synthetic pathway discovery and development

• Proven leadership in process chemistry and reaction optimization

• Experience developing and evaluating heterogeneous metal catalysts for hydrogenation and reduction chemistry

• Experience with acid- and base-catalyzed reaction systems

• Strong background in analytical method development and interpretation, including GC-FID, HPLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, NMR, and ICP

• Experience managing international technical teams and/or external technical partnerships

• Hands-on experience converting batch chemistry to flow or continuous processes

• A track record of hiring, training, and mentoring early-career scientists

• Ability to manage ITAR- and export-controlled information

Nice to have:

• Prior experience working directly with ITAR-regulated programs

You’re comfortable operating without established playbooks, and motivated by building systems, technical and organizational, from the ground up

• Onsite, 5 days per week, in a fast-moving R&D environment

• Hands-on work in BSL-1 and HazMat labs with flammable, corrosive, and other hazardous materials

• Up to ~20% travel to support partners, facilities, and program needs

OHR is an equal opportunity employer. We believe breakthrough science comes from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to building an inclusive, respectful, and ambitious workplace.

San Diego, CA 

About OHR

OHR is pioneering a new era of chemical manufacturing built on Creationary Chemistry™,     a platform that merges biological intelligence with primordial chemistry to create essential molecules in ways that are cleaner, smarter, and independent from traditional oil-based supply chains. We design and scale chemistry that matters most, delivering strategic chemicals with deterministic carbon chains and minimal contaminants, strengthening industrial resilience and global sovereignty. Our work spans advanced synthetic pathways, catalysis, and scalable process design, with real-world impact across fuels, materials, and critical industrial sectors.

At OHR, Scientists sit at the center of invention. This role exists for chemists who are ready to own chemistry programs, not just contribute to them—designing reactions, generating insight, and pushing work forward from discovery through scale-ready development.

We’re looking for a Heterogeneous Catalyst Design Chemist who wants to operate with real autonomy in the lab, guide reaction strategy across programs, and serve as a technical anchor within the chemistry team. You’ll work across synthetic discovery, process optimization, catalysis, and scale-up—turning first-principles chemistry into deployed technology.

If you’re motivated by responsibility, technical depth, and seeing your chemistry leave the lab, this role is for you.

You’ll lead and execute chemistry programs within OHR’s Creationary Chemistry™ platform, owning reaction design, catalyst design/selection, data quality, and technical progression across one or more product pathways.

In this role, you will:

• Uphold and exemplify excellence in laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, and responsible research practices
• Design, execute, and lead heterogeneous catalyst design, discovery, selection, and optimization experiments across OHR R&D programs
• Discover and develop novel base and precious metal-on-solid-support catalysts for reactions leverage OHRs
• Build, characterize, and test in-house solid catalysts for diverse reactions
• Identify and manage external technical interactions with catalyst suppliers and partners
• Experimentally validate reactions using the library catalysts to build data packages supporting scale up
• Identify and procure catalyst preparation equipment and draft catalyst construction and characterization experimental workflows
• Draft, optimize, and train colleagues on technical procedures and specialized reactions
• Prepare detailed experimental data packages and protocols to support technology transfer to Manufacturing and external partners
• Contribute to research strategy and IP development to strengthen and defend the Creationary Chemistry™ platform
• Partner with Project Management and leadership to track R&D progress, milestones, and KPIs

This role is for someone who wants to do the work. You’re excited to be in the lab, comfortable operating in environments where not everything is defined yet, and motivated by building chemistry systems from the ground up.

You may have experience in academic, industrial, or startup labs—but you’re drawn to environments where your experiments directly shape direction, not just reports. At OHR, Chemists and Scientists are trusted contributors whose work materially advances the platform.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Chemistry or related field
• Preference for a Master’s or PhD in Inorganic Chemistry
• A strong record of laboratory safety and chemical hygiene
• Hands-on experience contributing to chemistry R&D projects, including technical work in one or more of the following:
• Heterogeneous catalyst design and construction
• Heterogeneous catalyst discovery, screen, and optimization
• Heterogeneous reaction optimization
• Strong experimental documentation and data analysis skills

Nice to have:

• Experience working with international technical teams or external partners
• Familiarity with export-controlled or restricted technical information

• Onsite, 5 days per week, in a collaborative and fast-moving R&D environment
• Hands-on work in BSL-1 and HazMat laboratories with flammable, corrosive, and other hazardous materials
• Up to ~10% travel to support collaborators, facilities, or program needs

OHR is an equal opportunity employer. We believe breakthrough science comes from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to building an inclusive, respectful, and ambitious workplace.