Materials Scientist

Raven Space Systems, Inc.; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) matching

Comprehensive health coverage

Paid vacation

Job summary

Raven Space Systems, Inc. seeks a Senior Materials Scientist in Colorado to lead development, testing, and optimization of thermoset and ceramic composites for MAD 3D printing platforms.

This hands-on role couples formulation with production-scale considerations and collaborates with hardware and software teams. You will refine mixing protocols, guide extrusion and microwave-curing, support scale-up, and help advance our material stack for aerospace applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience with composite materials, especially thermosets or ceramics
• Hands-on experience with materials mixing, degassing, and rheological control
• Familiarity with techniques such as DSC, TGA, DMA, tensile testing, and microscopy
• Experienced in developing or scaling manufacturing processes for engineered materials
• Comfort working in cross-disciplinary teams with mechanical, software, and operations personnel

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize thermoset and ceramic composite formulations for MAD 3D printing platforms.
• Design and refine materials mixing protocols and equipment strategies for batch consistency and printability.
• Lead testing and characterization of material properties, including rheology, cure kinetics, and ablation performance.
• Support scale-up of formulations from lab-scale to production-level batches with tight process controls.
• Interface with software and hardware engineers to ensure proper extrusion behavior, curing dynamics, and print reliability.
• Assist in establishing quality control systems for materials and final part validation.
• Maintain documentation of formulations and results to support repeatability and audit readiness.
• Evaluate and qualify raw material vendors and identify new inputs as needed.
• Contribute to intellectual property and technical strategy for Raven’s composite materials stack

Skills

Composite materials

Formulation chemistry

Rheology

Cross-functional collaboration

Material characterization

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science

Tools

DSC

TGA

DMA

Tensile testing

Microscopy

Job description

RavenSpace Systems (Raven) is a venture-backed startup with active governmentprograms and strong commercial momentum, helping revitalize the industrial baseby developing breakthroughs in automated manufacturing to build factories ofthe future and enable the US to compete globally. To meet this critical need, Ravenis building breakthrough composite 3D printing smart factories for thermalprotection, lightweight structures, and more for aerospace and defense. OurMicrowave Assisted Deposition (MAD) innovation unlocks scalable 3D printing ofhighly tailorable, commercial-off-the-shelf thermoset and ceramic compositematerials for the first time. The technology is based on Direct Ink Write (DIW),the most versatile additive manufacturing technology, which utilizes thehighest-performance materials. However, DIW has been stuck in the lab forover 20 years due to its inability to 3D print full-scale composite parts. Raven’s MAD 3Dprinting factories bring DIW to full-scale production of parts and systems. Ourtechnology stack leverages MAD 3D printing, real-time monitoring and controls,and data-driven learning to deploy the most efficient and versatile advancedmanufacturing factories. Our mission is to transform composite manufacturing toalleviate critical supply chain bottlenecks and accelerate innovation.

Position Overview

ASenior Materials Scientist at Raven will lead the development, testing, andoptimization of thermoset and ceramic composite materials used in our MAD 3Dprinting systems. This is a hands-on, foundational role for an experiencedmaterials expert passionate about translating innovative formulations intoreal-world production processes. You will work closely with our hardware andsoftware teams to tune material behavior for extrusion, microwave-curing,ablation resistance, and mechanical performance. You will also help refinemixing protocols and support the scale-up of printable pastes for productionacross thermal protection systems, lightweight structures, and other criticalaerospace applications.

Job Duties

• Developand optimize thermoset and ceramic composite formulations for use in MAD 3Dprinting, including epoxy, phenolic, carbon-filled, aqueous ceramics,etc.
• Designand refine materials mixing protocols and equipment strategies to ensure batchconsistency, processability, and printability
• Leadtesting and characterization of material properties, thermal stability, curekinetics, mechanical, including rheology, and ablation performance
• Supportthe scale-up of formulations from lab-scale to production-level batches withtight process controls
• Interfacewith software and hardware engineers to ensure proper extrusion behavior,curing dynamics, and print reliability
• Assistin establishing quality control systems for incoming materials, in-processinspection, and final part validation
• Maintaindocumentation of formulations, experimental results, and processing parametersto support repeatability and audit readiness
• Evaluateand qualify raw material vendors and identify new material inputs as needed
• Contribute to intellectual property andtechnical strategy for Raven’s composite material stack

Qualifications (most should be met)

• Bachelor’sor Master’s in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, orrelated field
• 4+years of experience with composite materials, especially thermosets or ceramics
• Strongknowledge of formulation chemistry, particularly for filled resins andpaste-like materials
• Hands-onexperience with materials mixing, degassing, and rheological control
• Familiaritywith techniques such as DSC, TGA, DMA, tensile testing, and microscopy
• Experiencedeveloping or scaling manufacturing processes for engineered materials
• Comfortworking in cross-disciplinary teams with mechanical, software, and operationspersonnel

Preferred Experience (not required & still apply if you don’t meet any of these)

• PhDin Materials Science or related field
• Experiencewith ablative composites, ceramic-matrix composites, or carbon-carbon systems
• Familiaritywith Direct Ink Write (DIW) or paste extrusion additive manufacturing
• Experiencesupporting aerospace or defense hardware programs
• Exposureto high-temperature materials, thermal protection systems, or propulsioninsulation

Why Join Us

• Bea key contributor in developing the material backbone of a revolutionaryadditive manufacturing platform
• Workdirectly with the founding team to shape Raven’s materials R&D roadmap
• Helpsolve critical national supply chain challenges across aerospace and defense
• Early-stageequity opportunity with high-growth potential
• Accessto modern factory and lab infrastructure with real-time feedback from printersand operators
• Collaborateacross disciplines in a mission-driven, hands-on team

Compensation and Benefits

• Payrange: $100,000 - $180,000 + stock options
• Paidvacation, sick leave, and holidays
• 401(k)matching
• Comprehensivefamily medical, vision, and dental coverage

Additional Information

Toconform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S.citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green cardholder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S.Department of State.

Theannual base salary is determined by role, level, location, and alignment withmarket data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and mayvary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment ofseveral factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevanteducation/experience, and abilities of the candidate.

Ravenprovides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants withoutregard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protectedstatus.