Materials Reliability Scientist - Failure Analysis

Socket.dev; City of Corning (NY); On-site; USD 8,100 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Corning seeks a highly qualified scientist to advance reliability assessment and performance evaluation of brittle materials across advanced applications. You will combine laboratory experimentation with rigorous analysis to uncover degradation mechanisms and drive product improvements.

The role requires strong judgement, independence, and collaboration in a multidisciplinary environment, with emphasis on experimental design and data interpretation.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in mechanical or materials engineering or related field, or MS with 5+ years of industry experience.
• Strong foundation in mechanics of materials and failure‑mode analysis.
• Experience with inorganic brittle materials, optical thin films, and experimental mechanics.
• Experience with mechanical, thermal, and environmental testing and reliability assessments.
• Proven ability in data analysis, experimental design, and scientific problem solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; publications or presentations a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support R&D objectives.
• Plan experiments and assess material performance using first principles.
• Analyze reliability and failure modes to identify mechanisms and properties driving performance.
• Evaluate reliability of brittle coatings and related systems under realistic conditions.
• Coordinate with labs and stakeholders to deliver project outcomes.
• Prepare results and communicate conclusions through reports and presentations.
• Contribute to data‑driven problem solving and modeling efforts.

Education

Ph.D. in mechanical engineering / materials engineering or related field

MS in mechanical/materials engineering with 5+ years of experience

Mechanics of materials

Fracture mechanics

Materials characterization

Data analysis

Communication skills

Tools

SEM

TEM

SIMS

Universal testing machine

Indentation systems

DIC

Photoelasticity

Kolsky bar

Job description

Corning seeks a highly qualified scientist to advance reliability assessment and performance evaluation of brittle materials across advanced applications. You will combine laboratory experimentation with rigorous analysis to uncover degradation mechanisms and drive product improvements.

The role requires strong judgement, independence, and collaboration in a multidisciplinary environment, with emphasis on experimental design and data interpretation.