Senior Materials Engineer – Functional Polymer Gels

sOMERVILLE, ma, usa

About 3D Architech:

3D Architech is pioneering next-generation metal manufacturing infrastructures that push the boundaries of design at the unprecedented scale – 10 micron or lower. Our proprietary gel‑enabled metal manufacturing platform enables geometries, thermal performance, and materials combinations that are not achievable with conventional additive or subtractive processes.

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Our operation across the USA, Japan, and Taiwan, bridging advanced materials R&D with scalable manufacturing for thermal management applications. As we expand our R&D operations in the US, we’re seeking talented engineers to drive our manufacturing technology and the development of application-specific products for cooling devices.

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Role Overview:

In this role, you will lead the development of advanced materials and components using our proprietary gel-enabled metal manufacturing technology. Specifically, you will be responsible for the research and development of functional polymer gel systems, including property tuning and process development from early-stage R&D through scale-up.

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As a senior member of a fast-growing startup, this role is not limited to gel development alone. You are expected to contribute broadly across R&D activities, collaborate with multidisciplinary and international teams, and help drive technical decision-making under uncertainty to address complex technical challenges and scale up our innovative solutions from R&D to manufacturing.

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Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the formulation, optimization, and updating of functional polymer gel systems for advanced manufacturing applications.
  • Design and evaluate stimuli-responsive behaviors of polymer gels, and interpret these behaviors based on polymer network theories and structure-property relationships.
  • Design and evaluate stimuli-responsive behaviors of polymer gels, and interpret these behaviors based on polymer network theories and structure-property relationships.
  • Analyze and design reaction-diffusion processes within polymer gels, including mass transport and chemical reactions under confined geometries.
  • Develop and optimize vat photopolymerization-based processes, with particular attention to polymerization kinetics and their impact on printed structures.
  • Identify core technical challenges in scaling gel-based processes from R&D to manufacturing, and rapidly develop hypothesis-driven solutions.
  • Provide clear technical feedback, documentation, and design guidelines to international R&D and manufacturing teams.
  • Prepare technical reports, experimental plans, and data-driven discussions to support decision-making across projects.

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Required Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree at minimum; Ph.D. strongly preferred in Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
  • Strong background in stimuli-responsive polymer gel behavior, polymer network models, and structure-property-function relationships.
  • Understanding of reaction-diffusion phenomena and transport processes in polymer or soft material systems.
  • Experience applying first-principles and hypothesis-driven approaches to complex, open-ended R&D problems.
  • Ability to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate technical results clearly through reports and discussions.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and take technical ownership in an R&D environment with high uncertainty and ambitious timelines.

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Preferred Qualifications:

  • Hands-on experience with photopolymerization and photopolymerization kinetics.
  • Experience with 3D printing processes, particularly gel-based or vat polymerization systems.
  • Familiarity with analytical, thermal, or mechanical characterization techniques relevant to polymer gels and advanced materials manufacturing (e.g., rheology, thermal analysis, spectroscopic or microscopy methods).
  • Knowledge of interfacial reactions, adhesion, or surface chemistry in polymer or gel systems.
  • Experience or familiarity with scale-up considerations, including QC/QA aspects of material and process development.
  • Interest in applications enabled by advanced materials and manufacturing technologies, and alignment with the broader company vision.

Work Schedule and Compensation:

  • Working Hours: Standard business hours with flexibility available.
  • Occasional domestic and international travel

Benefits:

  • Medical and dental insurance coverage
  • Paid leave, maternity/paternity leave, and caregiving leave

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Application Process:

Interested candidates should complete the application form or send their resume or CV

to: applications@3d-architech.com

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