Senior- Scaled Inorganic Particle Synthesis Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Lead technical execution for the synthesis, purification, and pilot-scale batch production of advanced inorganic powders, non-oxide ceramics, and high-temperature precursors.
• Develop scalable wet-chemical, sol-gel, vapor-phase, or solid-state synthetic routes to transition novel formulations from gram-scale research to multi-kilogram production.
• Serve as the technical lead on advanced material research tasks, translating high-level program requirements into concrete chemical synthesis matrix plans.
• Establish quality control, stoichiometry, morphologic, and particle-size distribution parameters using automated instrumentation and process analytical technology (PAT).
• Oversee advanced material characterization techniques including XRD, SEM/EDS, TGA/DSC, BET surface area analysis, laser diffraction particle sizing, and rheometry.
• Establish inert-atmosphere chemistry protocols (Schlenk line, glovebox operations) for air/moisture-sensitive inorganic and organometallic precursors.
• Work closely with composite, structural, and payload engineering teams to integrate synthesized powders into downstream manufacturing processes (e.g., sintering, additive manufacturing, slurry coatings).
• Guide, mentor, and review the work products of junior scientists, engineers, and lab technicians.

Job requirements

• Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or a related field with 3–5+ years of industry/postdoctoral experience; OR an M.S.
• U.S. Citizenship: Required due to work within government facilities and access to export-controlled data.
• Experience collaborating with government labs (e.g., AFRL, NRL, ORNL) on DoD or DARPA advanced materials programs.
• Direct experience with preceramic polymers or high-temperature structural ceramics for aerospace/defense applications.
• Knowledge of Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology and statistical process control (SPC) for chemical production routines.
• Active Secret or Top-Secret U.S. Security Clearance.