Senior Materials Engineer - Functional Polymer Gels

Position: Senior Materials Engineer – Functional Polymer Gels

Location: Somerville, MA, USA

Employment Type: Full-time

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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

Application Process:

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply via the LinkedIn application form or send their resume/CV to applications@3d-architect.com.