Research Engineer - Soft Materials & Microfabrication Process Development

Spectraforce Technologies; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies is seeking a Research Engineer to join an advanced hardware R&D team in Redmond, WA. This onsite, bench-forward role focuses on developing soft-material and microfabrication processes, from concept to repeatable lab-scale methods, with collaboration across materials, device, and test engineers.

You will prototype devices, mature new fabrication techniques such as molding, and document SOPs, reports, and guidelines to support scalable production.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experimental / lab experience in a cleanroom or controlled environment.
• Strong foundation in chemistry and/or polymer and soft materials science.
• Ability to learn and adopt new fabrication and processing techniques.
• Excellent documentation and communication of results.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize lab-scale fabrication and processing for polymers and soft materials.
• Run hands-on device prototyping and process development in a cleanroom environment.
• Bring up and refine molding methods (injection, compression) for device workflows.
• Design experiments, analyze results, and drive reproducibility toward scale.
• Characterize materials and devices; author SOPs and design guidelines.

Skills

Hands-on experimental / lab experience

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Materials Science or Chemistry/Polymer/Materials Engineering

Job description

Job Title: Research Engineer - Soft Materials & Microfabrication Process Development

Location: Redmond, WA (Onsite)

Duration: 30 Months

About the role

We're looking for a Research Engineer to join an advanced hardware R&D team developing novel soft-material and microfabricated devices. This is a hands-on, bench-forward role that blends independent research with day-to-day process development in cleanroom and lab environments. You'll develop and optimize lab-scale fabrication and processing methods for polymers and soft materials, contribute to device prototyping, and help mature new fabrication techniques from concept to a repeatable process. You're equally comfortable running experiments at the bench and reasoning from the underlying materials science.

What you'll do

Develop, optimize, and document lab-scale fabrication and processing for polymers, elastomers, and soft materials.

Run hands-on device prototyping and process development in a cleanroom / controlled-environment lab.

Bring up and refine new fabrication techniques - including molding methods such as injection and compression molding - and integrate them into device workflows.

Design and execute experiments, analyze results, and drive processes toward reproducibility and scale.

Characterize materials and devices; author clear SOPs, reports, and design guidelines.

Collaborate across a multidisciplinary team (materials, device, and test engineers) and with external partners and vendors.

Minimum qualifications

• Degree in Materials Science, Chemistry / Polymer Chemistry, Chemical or Materials
• Engineering, or a related field (BS with relevant experience, MS, or PhD).
• Hands-on experimental / lab experience, including working in a cleanroom or controlled-environment lab.
• Foundation in chemistry and/or polymer and soft materials science.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adopt new fabrication and processing techniques.
• Strong experimental rigor, documentation, and communication.