Federal Tax Advisory - R & D Chemical Engineer STEM Senior Analyst - EDGE - HDG #1221

Location: Anywhere in Country

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We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The opportunity

As an EY STEM Senior Analyst, you will partner with other STEM team members as well as EY Tax professionals from across the globe to assist clients in identifying and documenting activities and expenses that qualify for various R&D and innovation-related incentives. Our clients span all industries and are performing some of the most cutting-edge research on the planet. If you want to be exposed to exciting research and development initiatives in product development, manufacturing, natural resources, pharmaceutical, and other high-tech engineering fields, this role is for you! This opportunity is ideal for individuals with relevant qualifications or experience in engineering, science and/or technology who wish to leverage and apply their technical skills in a new way. This role will suit experienced and enthusiastic individuals who are driven to learn about new technologies and industry trends, widen their technical knowledge and have broader client and commercial exposure.

The successful candidate will get the opportunity to work as part of a growing and dynamic specialist practice with a diverse team of highly successful tax and science/engineering/technology specialists

Your Key Responsibilities

As an EY STEM Senior Analyst with a background in Chemical Engineering, you will engage in in-depth discussions with technical and R&D leaders across industries such as chemicals, oil & gas, energy, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, advanced materials, and industrial manufacturing. These conversations will focus on innovative products, chemical process design, scale-up and optimization, reaction engineering, materials development, pilot- and plant-level experimentation, environmental technologies, and other advanced engineering methodologies.

You will work with a diverse range of clients, from early-stage innovators to major chemical producers, refineries, petrochemical companies, and multinational corporations, to evaluate and help prepare their R&D and innovation-related incentives. Many of these incentives, including the U.S. Research Credit, are designed to encourage companies to invest in experimentation, process improvements, and technology development within the United States. To claim these incentives, companies must demonstrate that their projects involved qualifying research activities. In this Senior role, you will leverage your chemical engineering expertise, technical problem-solving skills, and industry experience to help clients identify, articulate, and document their qualifying R&D activities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with client engineering, R&D, operations, and technical services teams to understand challenges related to process development, scale-up, catalyst evaluation, formulation chemistry, and manufacturing optimization.
• Leading technical discussions to identify qualifying research activities across chemical processing, refining, petrochemical operations, energy production, materials science, and advanced manufacturing.
• Evaluating project documentation such as process flow diagrams, Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&IDs), batch and continuous process records, pilot plant data, development summaries, DOE studies, stability or performance testing results, and optimization reports.
• Translating complex chemical engineering and oil & gas process challenges into clear narratives aligned with IRS requirements for the Research Credit.
• Guiding junior team members in understanding chemical engineering concepts and reviewing their work for accuracy and quality.
• Contributing to client deliverables, including technical write-ups, project summaries, and R&D activity analyses.
• Supporting engagement teams in preparing quantitative models, time surveys, and process-level cost allocations.
• Building strong relationships within chemical engineering, oil & gas, and broader STEM communities to support EY’s growing innovation incentives practice.
  
  

  Skills and attributes for success  

• Strong understanding of chemical engineering principles and techniques, including reaction engineering, thermodynamics, mass and heat transfer, separation processes, scale-up, and process optimization across industries such as oil & gas, petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, and advanced materials.
• Familiarity with product and process development workflows, including pilot plant operations, process modeling/simulation, equipment design, manufacturing processes, and technology commercialization.
• Ability to quickly grasp diverse engineering and scientific methodologies, including process control strategies, industrial automation, safety and environmental considerations, and software or digital tools commonly used in chemical/process engineering.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a passion for clear and precise technical documentation.
• Creative thinking and technical writing abilities that enable you to effectively identify, articulate, and document clients’ R&D, innovation, and process-improvement activities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams, scientists, and production/operations personnel.
• Ability to provide practical, structured approaches to complex technical challenges, especially in manufacturing or process-intensive environments.
• Strong critical thinking skills, including the ability to ask insightful, probative questions to ensure high-quality, technically robust deliverables.
• Ability to manage client expectations, communicate proactively, and maintain strong professional relationships.
• Effective multitasking and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  
  

To qualify for the role, you must have

• A STEM undergraduate or master’s degree in chemical engineering.   
• 2+ years of experience in research and innovation-related incentives or 3+ years of leveraging your STEM background in industry, or a combination of both.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently while simultaneously managing multiple projects.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams. 
  
  

Ideally, you will also have 

• Professional licenses, master’s degrees in related fields (e.g., information systems, science, engineering, green incentives, accounting, valuation, business administration, law etc.).
• Professional designations, including Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP); Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE®); Engineer in Training (EIT); Professional Software Engineering Master (PSEM) Certification; Professional Software Developer (PSD) Certification; Project Management Professional (PMP)® from Project Management Institute (PMI); or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
• MBA or Master of Taxation degrees.
• Enrolled Agent.
  
  

What We Look For

• Accelerate your technical capabilities and transformative leadership skills with future-focused courses and development programs.
• Broaden your horizons by working on highly integrated teams across the globe and collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds — both professionally and culturally.
• Bring out the best in yourself with continuous investment in your personal well-being and career development.
• Develop your own personal purpose and help us create a positive ripple effect on our teams, our business, clients, and society – building a better working world, together.
  
  

What We Offer You

At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $81,500 to $134,600. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $97,800 to $153,100. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team-led and leader-enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.
  
  

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

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