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Careers

Materia is always interested in meeting outstanding individuals who share our entrepreneurial spirit, our passion for innovation and our commitment to real-world change.

Please check the following job listing of our current needs. To apply for one of the open positions, please email your resume and salary history to hr@materia-inc.com or fax to +1.626.584.4271.

No phone calls, please.

Chemical Engineer – Process Technology

Department: Commercial Operations, Process Technology

Classification: Salaried, Exempt

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Job Purpose:

The Chemical Engineer is involved in the design, development, construction, and operation of manufacturing processes and associated equipment. The role focuses on managing scale-up of processes to pilot plant and then full industrial-scale manufacturing; identifying improvements in the processing plant that produces the products; and designing and commissioning new plants.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Process Technology Chemical Engineer works closely with process chemists and control engineers in cross-disciplinary teams to ensure that process plants worldwide are set up to provide maximum output levels from and efficient running of the respective production facilities:

  • Designing plant and equipment configurations that can be readily adapted to suit the employed raw materials, the desired product ranges, and involved process technologies within appropriate regulatory and economic constraints.
  • Instituting chemical process development, scale-up, and optimization activities including appropriate changes to equipment and process design and configuration such as batch versus continuous.
  • Assessing options for plant expansion or reconfiguration by developing and testing process simulation models.
  • Designing, installing, and commissioning new production plants, including monitoring status, progress, and troubleshooting.
  • Working closely with equipment suppliers and manufacturers, external consultants, and/or contractors to specify, plan, and complete equipment installations on-time.
  • Optimizing production capacity and throughput by monitoring respective processes, analyzing associated data and outcomes, and compiling and proposing relevant de-bottlenecking technologies or equipment.
  • Ensuring that potential and relevant safety issues and activities related to the project operator, the environment, the process, and the product are considered at all stages.
  • Other assigned duties as necessary.

Organization Relationships:

  • Reports directly to a Director or as otherwise designed

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Work Experience:

  • B.S. or M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field
  • 10 years’ experience in chemical plant design or up-scaling
  • Independent project management of projects >$1 Million
  • Experience in international work environment preferred
  • Requires good oral and written communication skills, good time management skills, and excellent laboratory techniques
  • Maintain skills/knowledge by reading literature, taking courses, and/or attending technical meetings
  • Must exercise safe laboratory practices at all times

Technical Requirements:

  • Zero to five years of related research experience

Managerial Experience:

  • Demonstrated ability to successfully work in and manage components of cross-disciplinary teams is highly desirable.

Physical Demands:

  • Some lifting, stooping, pushing, pulling, sitting, standing and additional activities may be assigned to meet the business needs.

 

Products Group Shift Supervisor

Department: Commercial Operations – Catalyst Production

Classification: Salaried, Exempt

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Job Purpose:

The Shift Supervisor ensures that employees on their respective shifts execute specific production tasks and assignments safely, efficiently, and according to established company policies and standards for quality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

70% of shift:

  • Perform all production tasks.
  • Execute and adhere to technical instructions and documented procedures for both targeted and routine manufacturing tasks approved by management.
  • Maintain careful, detailed production records, consistently document specific, key process data, and provide completed batch reports and other documents to management in a timely fashion.
  • Conduct routine analytical methods such GC, GC/MS, NMR, IR, UV, DSC, and/or TGA for process monitoring, skilled at interpreting corresponding data, and able to rationalize results within context of production outcomes and propose paths forward to management.
  • Internalize, champion, and reinforce proper housekeeping, work area order, and equipment maintenance consistent with production goals.
  • Maintain skills and knowledge growth through reading, enrolling in professional courses, and/or attending relevant technical meetings (refer to Employee Handbook for policies regarding Company support of these activities).
  • Other assigned duties as necessary.
  •  In addition and within defined protocols, the Shift Supervisor:

 25% of shift:

  • Manages employee workflow to meet shift production targets.
  • Identifies equipment maintenance or repair needs.
  • Records job data and any process changes or deviations.
  • Documents and communicates compliance and HR concerns.
  • Identifies any employee training and/or other resource needs.
  • Ensures smooth workflow transition from prior and to next shift.

 5% of shift:

  • Oversees off-hour facility security and safety.
  • Directs off-hour emergency and security situations.
  • Handles off-hour delivery, carrier, and receiving activities.

Organization Relationships:

  • The Shift Supervisor reports directly to a Manager or a Director as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Work Experience:

  • The Shift Supervisor is required to hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of relevant work experience and have a demonstrated aptitude for chemical manufacturing.
  • The position requires excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, and time management skills.
  • Prior leadership experience is highly desirable.

Technical Requirements:

  • Minimum of one to three years of related production experience or related higher level experience is acceptable.

Managerial Experience:

  • Zero to five years of experience in managing personnel is highly desirable.

Physical Demands:

  • Some lifting, stooping, pushing, pulling, sitting, standing and additional activities that may be assigned to meet the needs of the business.

 

Composites Engineer

Department: Materials

Job Description:
Ability to lead technical investigations and support customers needs in the area of composite research, reports & summaries, part fabrication, and testing. Must provide technical support and direction to the Materials group and customers.

Job Requirements:

  • Minimum of BS in Engineering, Chemistry or related fields 7-10 years of experience
  • Experience with or in manufacture of composite structures involving product designing and process development
  • Self motivated with a demonstrated ability to work both independently and in teams
  • High level of organizational skills and ability to function and make sound decisions with minimal direction
  • Able to effectively communicate
  • Problem solver

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Fiber and fabric selection and sourcing
  • Participate in materials research and development
  • Evaluation and modification of fiber and fabric sizing’s
  • Resins formulation and analysis
  • Evaluate chemical and mechanical bonding through spectroscopy and microscopy
  • Fabricate composites through traditional methods including hand layup, RTM, VARTM, infusion, etc.
  • Evaluate composite part quality through mechanical and non-destructive techniques
  • Maintain and update relevant literature information and internal data
  • Prepare standard operating procedures (SOP) to include setup procedure, tool lists, operation sequence, process routings and other pertinent data to ensure that parts meet design intent and customer requirements. Updates documents as necessary
  • Ensure compliance with company safe working protocols
  • Stay current on new technologies related to composite application, processing, etc.
  • Design and oversee quality control tests and programs to monitor part quality
  • Other duties as assigned

Background Sought:

  • We are looking for a seasoned and experienced infusion processing expert. Someone who has been either building large scale composites with infusion molding techniques – i.e. Epoxy, Vinyl ester, and Polyester resins or someone who has worked for a materials company supporting infusion molding accounts.
  • Travel 50% of the time supporting customer trials and customer events.

Role:

Customer Interface:

  • Capable of travel to Europe and Asia. Competent in dealing with customers and protecting Materia’s knowledge and IP with customers.
  • Customer advocate within Materia – adept at collecting needed information.
  • Hands – on problem solving. We are looking for someone who is great with customers and knows how to solve problems on site.
  • Someone who can lead customer trials and create a positive experience for the customer with our resin.

Internal Leader:

  • Lead the internal learning and teach experience/ knowledge about our resin in large scale infusion trials and validation work – defining infusion parameters and cure cycles.
  • Building a technical support team.

Industry Interface:

  • Has the ability to give demonstrations in Pasadena to multiple customers
  • Can present technical papers or demonstrations at conferences and symposiums

 

Research Chemist (Polymers)

Job Description:
The Research Chemist (Polymers) is a motivated, “hands-on” individual in the field of polymer chemistry. This individual will play a leading role in applying Materia’s Nobel-prize winning technology in olefin metathesis to the area of novel, polymer-based materials and demonstrating their potential use in commercial applications.

Responsibilities:
Devise and carry out independent or team-oriented R&D projects approved by management in a timely, cost-efficient, and safe manner. Maintain careful records and produce reports and other documents to meet technology dissemination, patent protection, and/or quality control needs. This position will involve performing tasks such as monomer / polymer synthesis, optimization, sample preparation, and characterization by a variety of chemical, physical, or mechanical techniques.

Education and Training:
The Research Chemist is required to hold a Ph.D. degree in Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry,Materials Science, or a related field. Requires excellent communication skills and knowledge of current laboratory techniques.

Technical Requirements:
Up to ten years of research experience (beyond dissertation research) in the field of polymer chemistry and polymer science. Industrial experience is desired but not a requirement. Essential skills include: good communication, creative problem-solving, record-keeping, knowledge of current laboratory techniques. The ability to work in a multidisciplinary, high-intensity environment is also required.

Managerial Experience:Not required.

 

Research Chemist

Job Description:
The Research Chemist performs various R&D projects and tasks related to the company’s technology and products.

Responsibilities:
Devise and carry out independent or team-oriented R&D tasks and projects approved by management in a time- and cost-efficient and safe manner. Maintain careful records and produce reports and other documents to meet technology dissemination, patent protection, and/or quality control needs. Maintain skills/knowledge by reading literature, taking courses, and/or attending technical meetings (refer to Employee Handbook for policies regarding Company support of these activities). May be asked to supervise other technical personnel including Chemists, Engineers, Technicians, and/or Operators. Perform other R&D tasks that may be required to support product development efforts and/or customer needs.

Organization Relationships:
The Research Chemist reports directly to the Manager, Director or Vice President of the applicable research department.

Education and Training:
The Research Chemist is required to hold a Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry (or a related field). Requires excellent communication skills and knowledge of current laboratory techniques.

Technical Requirements:
Up to ten years of related research experience (beyond dissertation research).

Managerial Experience:
Experience managing technical personnel is desirable but not required.

 

BS Chemist

Responsibilities:
Devise and carry out R&D tasks approved by management in a safe and efficient manner. Maintain careful records and produce reports and other documents to meet technology dissemination, patent protection, and/or quality control needs. Perform tasks such as chemical or polymer syntheses, chemical purifications, formulation or sample preparation, and chemical or mechanical analytical data collection and interpretation. Knowledge of GC, NMR, and IR techniques and data interpretation is preferred.

Job Requirements:
The Chemist is required to hold a minimum of a B.S. or B.A. degree or equivalent coursework in Chemistry (or a related field). Requires good oral and written communication skills; good time management skills, and excellent laboratory techniques.