Senior Material Scientist (Hybrid)

Purple is a digitally-native vertical brand with a mission to help people feel and live better through innovative comfort solutions. To us, comfort means more than great products, it means empowering every employee to feel comfortable being themselves. We believe your career at Purple will be a one-of-a-kind “Career in Comfort” because our workforce is one-of-a-kind. We are committed to a culture of collaboration where every voice is heard and understood. As an innovation company at our core, we believe a diversity workforce brings better insights, solutions and products and serves as the backbone to bettering our company. Join with us as we add to our team of exceptional individuals who will help us take over the world — one mattress at a time.

Compensation

The compensation target for this role is: $94,400 - $111,000

Job Summary

The Senior Materials Scientist is a key part of the Materials Science Team within the Innovations Department. You are the backbone of the technological improvement to Purple’s comfort technology offerings and much of the work is at the forefront of the company’s innovation pipeline.

Job Description

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Lead a small team of Materials Scientists and Technicians to support the Materials Science goals of Purple

Perform laboratory investigations into modifications and improvements of Hyper-Elastic Polymer Gels relating to both the product and processes under the supervision of senior staff.

Own the organized and well-documented laboratory notebook/report structure.

Develop blending, formulation, and experimentation plans for various projects using efficient DOE methodology.

Manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks according to team, department, and company goals.

Support team members with project planning and mentorship.

Plan and perform mechanical and physical testing of formulations.

Direct literature research pertaining to current and new areas of investigation.

Publish internal reports and present research findings to senior staff relating to ongoing and completed projects.

Act as liaison between Material Science and internal teams (Production, Quality, and Engineering).

Travel occasionally off-site to corporate sites and vendor sites, <10%. Travel to technical conferences will also be occasionally required.

Required Skills, Education, Experience

• Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Polymer Science and Engineering, or Chemical Engineering or other relevant scientific area with 5-7 years’ experience in relevant fields
• Leadership and mentorship skills to manage other materials scientists and technicians in a professional manner and develop their skills.
• Extensive knowledge of polymer structure, physical chemistry, and polymer characterization techniques.
• Strong technical writing skills for communicating advanced scientific concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
  
  

Our ideal candidate brings…

• Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Polymer Science and Engineering, or Chemical Engineering or other relevant scientific area with 7-10 years’ experience in relevant fields.
• Experience with oil-extended elastomer gels and rheological testing.
• Track record developing novel, patentable solutions to technical problems.
• Exposure to the Stage Gate process.
• Extensive knowledge of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), melt flow processing (MFI), rheology (ODR/ESR), Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, benchtop injection molding.
  
  

Physical Requirements

Physical activities may occasionally include:

• Ability to lift 25-30 pounds
• Ability to work with mixing equipment/respirator for raw materials addition.
  
  

Physical Activities May Constantly Include

• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Repetitive motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of work assigned.
  
  

Environmental Conditions May Occasionally Include

• Noisy instrumentation in laboratories
  
  

Benefits And Perks

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible PTO
• Earn a Mattress
• Purple Swag
• Amazing Purple Products
  
  

WHY WORK AT PURPLE?

• Make your mark: We value innovative thinking. At Purple, you will be empowered to bring your ideas to life as we work together to improve people’s lives through comfort.
• Gain unique experience: Be a part of one of the fastest growing companies in Utah! The contributions you make will matter at Purple as the company continues to grow with you.
• Awesome culture: Join the tight-knit team at Purple and you can enjoy working alongside industry experts, making close friends, and annual employee appreciation events.
  
  

Purple provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.