Process Scientist

MacroCycle; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks PTO (increasing to 4)

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Commuter stipend & BlueBikes

Equity

Retirement savings platform

Team lunches & snacks

Networking events near MIT/Harvard

Job summary

MacroCycle is a Boston-area startup focused on transforming textile waste into high-quality polyester fibers using SolvoGenesis technology. As a senior scientific hire, you will help define experimental processes and scale work from bench to real-world applications with customers.

You will develop new chemistries to purify polyester wastes, run lab-scale reactions, and analyze products with diverse analytical tools, while collaborating with founders and presenting findings at conferences.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field with strong background in polymer science.
• Extensive hands-on experience with polymer purification or separation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Develop new chemistries to purify and upgrade blended polyester wastes.
• Design and run lab-scale chemical reactions.
• Analyze intermediates and products using analytical techniques.
• Critically evaluate results, troubleshoot challenges, and plan experiments.
• Review literature to inform synthesis approaches.
• Collaborate on grants, patents, and white papers.
• Engage with fashion/textile customers to share results and build trust.
• Represent MacroCycle at conferences.
• Report findings to CTO and team.

Skills

Polymer chemistry

Analytical techniques

Lab scale to production

Communication

Collaboration

Customer interaction

Education

PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

NMR

GPC

GC

LC-MS

FTIR

ICP

DSC

MALDI-TOF

ChemDraw

MestreNova

Job description

At MacroCycle, we’re building a new approach to textile recycling. Today, most textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated, but our SolvoGenesis technology transforms that waste back into high-quality polyester fibers. By closing the loop on polyester, we’re helping to reduce landfill waste, lower production emissions, and move the textile industry toward a truly circular future.

What you’ll do

You’ll join a lean, hands-on R&D team working directly with our CTO and founders. As one of MacroCycle's early scientific hires, you’ll help define our experimental processes and see your work move quickly from bench-scale discovery to real-world application with our customers.

• Develop new chemistries to purify and upgrade various blended polyester wastes delivered by MacroCycle supply chain partners and customers

• Design and run lab-scale chemical reactions

• Analyze intermediates and products using appropriate analytical techniques

• Critically evaluate results, identify and troubleshoot challenges, and plan experiments

• Review relevant literature to inform new synthesis approaches

• Collaborate on grants, patents, and white papers

• Engage directly with fashion and textile customers, sharing results and leading experimental work to build trust in our technology

• Represent MacroCycleat public or scientific conferences

• Report directly to our CTO and share findings with the broader team

What you bring

A background in polymer and separation science (academic or industrial R&D) is required. Prior textile experience is a bonus, but we are happy to train the right candidate.

• PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering, ideally familiar with PET, Spandex, Cotton, Dyes, Pigments

• 5+ years of hands-on experimental chemistry experience (PhD years count)

• Familiarity with polymer purification techniques: precipitation, filtration, adsorption, liquid/solid separation, distillation

• Familiarity with analytical techniques such as NMR, GPC, GC, LC-MS, FTIR, ICP, DSC, or MALDI-TOF, and chemistry software like ChemDraw or MestreNova

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings clearly through graphs and slides

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, with a commitment to careful, high-quality lab work

• Ability to interface with technicians, the company founders, and customer representatives

• A can-do mindset and enthusiasm for tackling new challenges

• Experience scaling chemical processes from bench-top to pilot or production scale, particularly in polymer purification or separation systems

• Familiarity with PET, spandex, cotton, dyes, or pigments

Why Join Us

• Generous Paid Time Off: 3 weeks PTO (increasing to 4 weeks after year 1), plus 8 paid holidays and a paid company closure between Christmas and New Year's

• Premier medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Commuter stipend and annual BlueBikes membership

• Competitive and experience-guided compensation, including equity

• Retirement savings platform

• We encourage and protect time off: your well-being matters

• Regular team lunches and office snacks

• Access to networking events and innovation hubs in the Harvard/MIT area

• The chance to help shape a fast-growing MIT startup with real commercial traction

Position open until filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

MacroCycle is committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those who may not meet every listed qualification, to apply.