The Role

You will lead the design, execution, and analysis of rheological experiments to build a practical, decision-oriented understanding of how our polymer materials behave in real processing environments. This is not academic exploration, this role is focused on answering how and why our materials perform the way they do, and using that understanding to guide formulation, processing, and product decisions.

This role sits within a collaborative materials development team and reports to our Associate Director of Product Development. While highly autonomous in day-to-day work, you will partner closely with chemists, process engineers,  and materials scientists to connect formulation, processing, and performance.

Success in this role means not just generating high-quality data, but using it to define process windows, guide formulation decisions, and ensure our materials perform reliably in real-world applications.

What You’ll Do

• Design and execute rheological experiments to characterize polymer systems under a variety of extrusion based methods.

• Apply standard rheological techniques while developing and adapting methods for new materials and equipment

• Establish processing > structure >property relationships that inform product performance

• Define operating windows and process boundaries to ensure materials meet target specifications

• Partner with chemists to answer key formulation questions (e.g., catalyst loading, mixing behavior, residence time effects)

• Build structured, reproducible experimental workflows with a strong emphasis on rigor and data quality

• Synthesize and communicate results clearly to enable fast, confident decision-making across the team

Success in This Role (First 6 Months)

• Establish rheological guidelines for a core additive manufacturing product

• Define process windows and constraints required to achieve consistent performance

• Provide clear recommendations on formulation and processing variables (e.g., catalyst incorporation, mixing conditions)

• Build a foundation of reliable, interpretable data that informs both current products and development of future products

Who You Are

• Strong foundation in rheology applied to polymer or soft material systems

• Hands-on experimentalist who can design as well as execute studies

• Comfortable operating with autonomy and bringing structure to ambiguous problems

• Product-oriented thinker who connects material behavior to real-world performance

• Clear and concise communicator who can translate complex data into actionable insights

• Pragmatic and outcome driven. You prioritize solving the right problems over exploring everything

Qualifications

Required:

• MS or PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

• Meaningful experience with thermomechanical analysis methods, e.g. DMA, DSC, TGA, TMA

• Hands-on experience with rheological characterization of polymeric materials (e.g., melts, resins, gels, or similar systems)

• Experience designing experiments and interpreting results in a processing or application context

Preferred:

• Industry experience in additive manufacturing, polymers, coatings, or advanced materials

• Experience working with or supporting filament-based AM processes

• Experience working with singly or twin screw extrusion based processes

• Experience developing or adapting rheological methods for new materials or equipment