Process Development Scientist / Engineer

Engineering·Mountain View, CA or New York, NY·Full-time

We're looking for a hands-on, scientist/engineer hybrid to own the laboratory validation and pilot-scale development of novel inorganic chemistry processes for advanced materials production. This is a critical technical role for a dynamic individual who can play well on both sides: bringing scientific depth and wet-lab discipline to early process validation, while also translating that work into the engineering basis for pilot and commercial-scale systems. You will be responsible for planning and executing wet-lab experiments, defining process parameters, designing pilot-scale demonstration skids and working closely with our engineering team and process engineering leadership to bring a first-of-its-kind domestic production process to life. You'll operate at the intersection of inorganic chemistry, process development, and industrial scale-up, helping transform bench-scale chemistry into a scalable manufacturing platform.

Responsibilities

Own bench-scale wet-lab validation, iteration and optimization of inorganic chemistry process steps for advanced material synthesis
Design and execute experiments to identify key operating parameters, yield drivers, impurity controls, and product quality limits
Develop and maintain mass balances, process observations, analytical plans, and experimental records that can support engineering design decisions
Coordinate product and intermediate characterization using in-house methods and external analytical labs, including elemental assay, impurity analysis, moisture/loss-on-drying, acidity, and morphology observations as needed
Translate bench-scale results into process requirements for a pilot-scale demonstrator, including equipment needs, operating parameters, materials of construction, PFDs and P&IDs
Lead the design basis for pilot-scale testing in partnership with process engineering, hardware engineering, and external vendors or labs
Identify process risks, failure modes, safety requirements, waste streams, and scale-up uncertainties early enough to influence design
Work with the engineering team to move from lab validation to pilot operation and ultimately to commercial-scale implementation
Develop test plans, operating procedures, sampling plans, and data packages that allow the team to iterate quickly and make defensible technical decisions
Bring urgency and scientific discipline to a technically ambitious program aimed at restoring domestic production of critical advanced materials

Qualifications

Proven success developing or optimizing inorganic chemistry, hydrometallurgy, materials synthesis, or related inorganic wet-chemistry processes
Hands-on experience running bench-scale experiments involving highly corrosive compounds in continuous production processes
Strong ability to design experiments, interpret analytical data, and convert lab observations into actionable process parameters
Ability to move fluidly between scientist and engineer modes, combining experimental rigor with practical judgment about equipment, operations, and scale-up
Experience developing mass balances, yield calculations, impurity tracking, and process documentation for scale-up
Familiarity with analytical techniques such as ICP-OES, ICP-MS, XRF, titration, moisture/LOI testing, microscopy, or comparable characterization methods
Ability to work safely and independently in wet-lab environments with hazardous chemicals and controlled procedures
Proven ability to develop P&IDs, PFDs and assist in equipment design using CAD
Experience translating bench-scale chemistry into pilot-scale equipment requirements is strongly preferred
Experience with high-purity materials, reactive metals, refractory materials, specialty chemicals or electronics/energy/defense supply chains is a plus
Experience working with external labs, vendors, consultants, or engineering teams is a plus
B.S. degree in chemical engineering, chemistry or materials science is required
M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant technical field is a plus

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary range: $160k–$250k

Significant equity compensation aligned with public benchmarks for senior early team members

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: location, job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short & long-term disability insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. We have a flexible paid time-off (PTO) policy.