R&D Technician

Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company, is seeking an experienced and motivated technician with chemistry and equipment experience to join its innovation efforts and support customers in the Global High Tech industry. The company is establishing a dedicated EU GHT RD&E team in Leiden, the Netherlands.

The Lab Technician will primarily be responsible for supporting the development and/or deployment of innovative chemistry, equipment and/or digital technologies in the GHT industry. The role requires a strong technical background, a hands-on mindset, ideally practical field or application experience, versatility across different topics and projects, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

What’s in it for you:

• The opportunity to take on meaningful challenges, helping customers achieve clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments
• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company and a team that is passionate about growth
• A culture that values safety first, including training and personal protection

The main responsibilities of the role are to:

• Collaborate with a global team on innovation development and deployment of products (chemistry, equipment or digital) related to cooling within the global high tech industry
• Provide customer equipment and chemistry-related support relating to cooling and water treatment, including direct-to-chip, closed loops, open-evaporative systems, adiabatic systems, and effluent treatment in the GHT industry

This involves:

• Execute application-focused lab studies on coolant formulations, such as water/glycol systems, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, and additives, to support GHT cooling technologies
• Conduct performance testing including corrosion, material compatibility, and thermal stability for closed-loop and direct-to-chip systems
• Evaluate coolant performance in integrated systems, such as CDUs, cold plates, and closed-loop test rigs, in collaboration with RD&E engineering teams
• Troubleshoot chemistry-related issues, such as deposits, degradation, and material interactions, as well as equipment-related issues involving sensors and pumps in prototype and pilot systems
• Provide technical support for deployment of coolant chemistries in customer systems, including datacentres, semiconductor, and microelectronics environments, by assisting with field trials, pilot installations, and commissioning activities, including sampling, monitoring, and performance validation
• Support root cause analysis of field issues related to coolant chemistry, such as corrosion, fouling, and fluid degradation
• Coordinate a varied workload, manage shifting priorities, and complete tasks within required timelines
• Support implementation of lab and field safety procedures related to chemical use
• Maintain clear documentation and communicate findings to RD&E, marketing, and commercial teams

Qualifications and experience:

• Chemistry- or engineering-related study at HBO level and 1–2 years of industry experience
• Hands-on lab experience
• Experience in designing and maintaining prototype test fixtures and laboratory setups
• Capability to assemble and troubleshoot electronic systems, including pumps, sensors, and other electro-mechanical hardware systems, is an advantage
• Knowledge of cooling technologies, cold plates, and cooling distribution units is an advantage
• Experience working in R&D, pilot, or prototype environments where priorities shift and multiple projects run in parallel
• Self-starter who is willing to learn and has a hands-on approach
• Good communication skills, with the ability to deliver complex information in an easy-to-understand format
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Works well under pressure
• Proficiency in English, both written and verbal, is required