Senior Material Scientist

Company Description

Viable Gear is a Portland, Maine based startup creating innovative seaweed-based biomaterials that aim to reduce petroleum-based plastics used in our food systems. Viable Gear's patent-pending base material is being scaled for cordage across land and ocean, with many future applications in fibers and pelletization for traditional injection molded products.

Role Description

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Material Scientist with deep expertise in bio-based materials and polymer processing to join our growing R&D team at Viable Gear. This role is central to advancing our proprietary seaweed-based material technology from lab to scalable applications. 

As a material scientist, you will work at the intersection of materials science and process engineering - compounding innovative seaweed-based resins, scalable manufacturing methods, and collaborating on next-generation material R&D. 

You will work closely with our internal team, reporting to the CEO and partnering with our partners; grants, external R&D, and manufacturing partners. 

We're looking for a technically strong, hands-on candidate with expertise in biopolyers in material science and/or polymer engineering and a passion for climate solutions. If you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and want to be part of building something from the ground up, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Material Development & Compounding: Optimize Viable Gear’s proprietary seaweed-based material formulation for various product manufacturing pathways, including wet spinning and thermoplastic extrusion.

• Cross-team Collaboration: Work closely with leadership team, external researchers, and manufacturing teams to advance material R&D and ensure seamless integration of materials into product workflows.

• Characterization & Testing: Conduct polymer characterization and mechanical/thermal testing to evaluate and improve materials.

• Scale-Up Manufacturing Support: Translate lab-scale processes into pilot-scale and industry-scale production, focus on identifying the appropriate equipment, manufacturing machinery, material sources, and partners needed to produce and scale Viable Gear’s material technology. 

• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of formulations, processing parameters, and performance metrics to support ongoing R&D and commercialization efforts.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with internal R&D and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration of materials into product workflows.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Material Science, Chemistry, Physics, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years experience in Materials Science, Polymers, and Physics
• Experience in sustainable material development or bio-based polymers and polymer processing
• Laboratory Skills and Research and Development (R&D) experience
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to problem-solve, work independently and collaboratively, and iterate rapidly in a dynamic R&D setting.

Additional Requirements

• Remote (Portland, ME): This is a remote position that is ideally in driving distance to Portland, ME. Candidates must have access to a suitable home workspace with a reliable internet connection. Access to lab space may be considered, depending on individual needs and project requirements.
• Travel: This role requires regular travel to partner labs and the CEO's office within the state of Maine.
• Transportation: Candidates must have access to their own reliable transportation.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary $85,000 to $100,000 annual salary based on experience.
• We don’t currently offer a formal benefits package, but it’s something we’re actively working toward as the company grows. As funding and team size increase, we plan to build out benefits that reflect our values and support our team—starting with health coverage.