Materials Scientist/Engineer - Program Lead

Search Jobs - INL Professional Careers; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 114,000 - 281,000; Full time

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking an experienced Materials Scientist, Materials Engineer, or Metallurgist at the Ph.D. or M.Sc. level to join our MSM team in Idaho Falls.

The position emphasizes physical metallurgy, materials properties, and qualification and certification of materials and components, especially for armed services. Responsibilities include leading qualification programs, guiding multidisciplinary teams, writing proposals, and developing new programs in advanced materials

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited program degree required or equivalent.
• Strong background in physical metallurgy, materials properties, and certification frameworks (MIL-STD, AMS, ISO, ASTM).
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and securing program funding.

Responsibilities

• Lead qualification and certification programs for defense components and materials; integrate AI/ICME into development workflows.
• Manage R&D projects, guide cross-functional teams, and write proposals to obtain funding.
• Shape long-term technical strategy and programs in advanced materials for defense platforms.

Skills

Materials science

Metallurgy

Leadership

R&D management

AI/ICME tools

Education

PhD in Materials Science or related

MSc in Materials Science or related

Tools

ICME

AI tools

Job description

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking an experienced Materials Scientist, Materials Engineer, or Metallurgist at the Ph.D. or M.Sc. level to join our team. The Department of Materials Science and Manufacturing (MSM) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) seeks to bolster its current expertise in materials science, materials engineering, and metallurgy. The position requires R&D experience in one or more of the following areas: physical metallurgy, materials properties and performance, and qualification and certification of materials and components, especially for the armed services. Experience in additional advanced manufacturing techniques is a plus. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Idaho Falls facility with every other Friday off.

Responsibilities

• Lead a qualification and certification program supporting armed services operations and industrial base manufacturing. End applications are typically focused on components for military defensive and offensive purposes. Expertise is required in materials performance, development, and manufacturing process development for high-strength, lightweight, oxidation-resistant metal alloys. The ability to integrate artificial intelligence (AI), digital engineering, Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), modeling, and simulation into the development of systems, processes, and automation for materials performance and advanced materials processing is also an important skill for this position.
• You will be responsible for research and development in the areas outlined above and will lead multi-disciplinary technical team(s) in these areas. As principal investigator and program lead, the successful candidate will also be responsible for writing proposals and securing funding from appropriate private and public organizations to execute work in the areas discussed above, and for independently guiding others in performing unique laboratory research studies to prove new principles and concepts related to advanced materials development.
• Serve as a long-term technical and strategic leader within the department - building and leading new missions and programs in materials science and engineering that extend well beyond the scope of this initial effort. This includes taking initiative in developing new programs associated with advanced materials development and performance assessment in support of strategic priorities at the departmental, directorate, and laboratory levels, and assisting the leadership team in executing the organization’s broader strategic plan.

Minimum Requirements

• Level 4 M.Sc. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field from a program accredited by ABET, with 6 years of related post-M.Sc. experience or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field, with 4 years of related post-Ph.D. experience.
• Level 5 M.Sc. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field from a program accredited by ABET, with 8 years of related post-M.Sc. experience or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field, with 6 years of related post-Ph.D. experience.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy "Q" clearance, which requires US Citizenship.
• 4+ years' direct experience in leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience within the Department of War (DOW) or the broader defense industrial base.
• Experience managing programs or projects with a total budget of $20 million or greater.
• Knowledge of AI and use of AI in interested technical areas.
• Knowledge and experience in materials qualification and certification processes (e.g., MIL-STD, AMS, ISO, ASTM frameworks) as applied to defense platforms.
• Proven track record of efficient mission execution and management of medium- to large-scale projects, delivering on time and on budget from requirements definition through qualification/certification milestones.
• Experience in technical decision-making and direction at the medium- to large-scale project level.
• Ability to understand customer needs and execute them effectively.
• Demonstrated record of effective teamwork and working across organizational boundaries.
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to brief senior government and military service stakeholders as well as program executives, and the ability to translate technical risk into program/schedule impact for non-technical leadership.
• Experience in structure/property characterization of materials, including development of new materials and materials characterization techniques.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Experience

• PhD in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• Direct experience with DOW materials certification and qualification for weapons platforms/systems, (e.g., MMPDS, Qualified Products Lists, airworthiness/flightworthiness processes, nuclear certification).
• Direct experience with DoW manufacturing industrial contractors.
• Experience applying Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), digital engineering, and/or artificial intelligence (AI) tools to accelerate qualification timelines.
• Experience with agentic AI, automated reasoning, or human-in-the-loop decision workflows applied to technical or engineering assessments.
• Experience developing or applying digital twin models to support materials or component qualification.
• Experience working across multiple military branches or similarly complex multi-stakeholder, multi-authority environments.
• Experience with materials qualification or fielding in forward-deployed, austere, or resource-constrained environments.
• Experience engaging with standards bodies (e.g., ASTM, SAE) to codify guidance or specifications.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Position requires the ability to smell. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Information

• The pay range for this position is: Level 4 ($114,360 - $234,336) / Level 5 ($137,076 - $281,196). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.