Materials Scientist - Photopolymer Development

About the role

A 3D printer is one of the most demanding machines you can build.

Lasers, optics, precision motion, thermals, airflow, materials handling, chemistry, sensing, controls, and software all have to work at micron-scale precision, for thousands of layers, with almost no tolerance for error. Making that work reliably is an extraordinary engineering problem.

That's what we do.

At Formlabs, we're building 3D printers that are changing the way things get made. We have the smartest minds across every engineering discipline, and the technology they're building is deployed at more than 50,000 industry leaders worldwide, including Apple, Google, Tesla, New Balance, and NASA.

Your Impact

Materials development presents one of the greatest opportunities to innovate in 3D printing, unlocking new applications in different industries such as engineering, consumer, manufacturing, automotive and healthcare. Our materials science team works closely with product management, hardware and software teams to develop new materials that push the boundaries of what can be done with 3D printing.

If you are a scientist or engineer with experience in polymer development who's excited to break new ground in an industry that's moving at lightning speed, we want you as a Materials Scientist - Photopolymer Development!

What You'll Do

• Design and optimize complex photopolymer formulations to push the boundaries of additive manufacturing.
• Lead the end-to-end transition of new materials from lab scale concept to commercial launch, supporting technology transfer and scale-up.
• Establish structure-process-property relationships through rigorous experimentation and analytical characterization to meet demanding product specifications.
• Learn about the 3D printing process and underlying hardware, and use that knowledge to inform formulation decisions and provide input to future hardware decisions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, hardware, and software teams to develop products that meet customer needs and work seamlessly on the Form 4 platform.

About You

• BS, MS, or PhD in polymer science, chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science or a related field.
• Results-oriented and motivated by delivering products in a fast-paced R&D environment.
• Experience developing thermoset materials including epoxies, urethanes, or acrylates.
• Enjoys working hands-on in the lab conducting experiments and analyzing large data sets to drive decision making.
• Able to work autonomously and push projects forward with a high level of independence.
• Track record of success including publication, IP generation, or product commercialization.
• Practices good documentation and can organize complex data, create SOPs, and write clear, detailed internal reports.

Bonus Skills

• Familiarity with additive manufacturing technologies
• Programming and digital analysis (Python, JMP, MATLAB, Minitab etc)
• Experience with high performance polymers, composites, or elastomers

Our Perks

• Robust equity program to build future wealth through RSUs
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 401K matching and access to financial advisors
• Generous paid Parental Leave (up to 16 weeks)
• Tenure-based paid Sabbatical Leave (up to 6 weeks)
• Flexible Out of Office Plan - Take time when you need it
• Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits
• Healthy on-site lunches, snacks, beverages, & treats
• Regular sponsored professional development opportunities
• Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community
• And of course… unlimited 3D prints

Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.

Compensation

Equity is a big part of the compensation package at Formlabs - every employee receives equity because everyone contributes to building the company. We have a lot of confidence in the products we're building and the impact we're making, and you should too.

Base pay is the other part of our compensation package, and it is carefully determined based on your skills, experience, and expected impact. Equity and base pay combine to make up your total compensation package at Formlabs.

The annual base pay range for this role is: $75,000 - $142,000 USD