Principal Scientist

First Principle; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

First Principle is seeking a Principal Scientist to own the chemistry at the heart of its platform. You will design, synthesize, and develop the next generation of functional materials that will define performance for years to come, with responsibilities spanning from concept to validation in a working separation process.

This leadership role reports directly to the founding team and is a ground-floor opportunity to shape the lab and the tech roadmap while delivering meaningful impact on

Qualifications

• PhD in organic, organometallic, polymer, or materials chemistry, or equivalent depth from industrial research.
• Hands-on small molecule synthesis and design experience.
• Experience across coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, polymer chemistry, functional materials, or separation science.
• Track record of independently driving research programs with scale-up to production.
• Intuition for cost and scale of materials and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and synthesis of novel small molecules and functional materials.
• Own the full R&D pipeline from design to incorporation into polymer/resin supports and testing.
• Drive fundamental research in parallel with scale-up toward production.
• Collaborate with process and engineering teams to ensure scalable, cost-effective chemistries.
• Shape the long-term technical roadmap and lab capabilities.

Skills

Small molecule synthesis

Molecular design

Scale-up expertise

Coordination chemistry

Organometallic chemistry

Polymer chemistry

Functional materials

Separation science

Industrial R&D leadership

Education

PhD in organic chemistry

PhD in organometallic chemistry

PhD in polymer chemistry

PhD in materials chemistry

Equivalent industrial R&D depth

Job description

First Principle has been retained by an early, ambitious team working to strengthen U.S. supply chains for the critical materials that underpin energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing.

The science behind their approach is already validated and used at global manufacturing scale in highly regulated industries like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. When applied to the rare earths market, it will deliver efficiencies and purities far beyond existing technologies, with a fraction of the energy intensity and little to no environmental impact.

We’re looking to hire a Principal Scientist to own the chemistry at the heart of this platform: designing, synthesizing, and developing the next generation of functional materials that will define performance for years to come. This is a key leadership hire reporting directly into the founding team, with a mandate to drive the chemistry function long-term.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and synthesis of novel small molecules, taking new structures from first concept through to functionalized materials and performance testing.
• Own the full R&D pipeline, from molecular design to incorporation into polymer and resin supports, through to validation in a working separation process.
• Drive fundamental research in parallel with scale-up, continuously developing better-performing chemistries that can be fed rapidly into production.
• Partner closely with process and engineering teams to ensure new chemistries stay practical, scalable, and cost-effective.
• Shape the long-term technical roadmap, including expansion into additional critical element separations, and define the lab capabilities and equipment needed to get there.

Success Criteria

• A PhD in organic, organometallic, polymer, or materials chemistry (or closely related), or equivalent depth built through substantial industrial research experience.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in small molecule synthesis and design, with the creativity to propose new structures and the bench skills to make them.
• Experience across one or more of coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, polymer chemistry, functional materials, or separation science.
• A track record of independently driving research programs, whether in industry, national labs, or academia, with enough fluency in scale-up to keep the science grounded in commercial reality.
• An intuition for the cost and scale of materials and processes, and the confidence to make fast, well-reasoned calls without perfect data.
• Relevant backgrounds may include critical minerals processing, battery materials extraction & recycling, specialty chemicals and ion exchange resins, carbon capture, or national lab separations programs.
• You're hungry, move fast, and thrive with real ownership and autonomy in an early-stage environment.

This is a ground-floor opportunity, joining a team fewer than 10, owning the science behind a platform that's already working and scaling fast. You’ll see molecules you design reach meaningful production and have direct impact on critical domestic manufacturing and security programs.

You'll have real authority over research direction, a direct line to the founders, and a meaningful equity stake to share in the success you help build.