Resident Research Scientist (Functional Glasses)

X Development, LLC; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits

Mentorship

Job summary

X in Mountain View is seeking a Resident Research Scientist (Functional Glasses) to develop end-to-end glass materials for optical applications. The role embeds you in a cross-functional team and offers a pathway to impactful research within an industrial setting.

You will design, synthesize, and rigorously characterize glasses, work on dopant functionalization, and help translate research into scalable protocols while engaging with leaders across X.

Qualifications

• Actively pursuing or recently completed (within 2 years) a PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with high-temperature synthesis and characterization of dielectric inorganic glasses or ceramic materials.
• Understanding of glass structure-property relationships and how compositional changes affect optical behavior.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel glass materials, and evaluate their optical and structural properties.
• Optimize dopant incorporation to achieve targeted photosensitivity and refractive index modulation.
• Perform advanced characterization using spectroscopic, thermal, and structural methods (XRD/SEM).
• Design experimental matrices (DOE) to identify optimal formulations for laser-induced modification.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineers to test new materials and contribute to IP filings.

Skills

High-temperature synthesis

Dielectric glass materials

Materials characterization

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field

Tools

XRD

SEM

Spectroscopy

Job description

R e s i d e n t R e s e a r c h S c i e n t i s t ( F u n c t i o n a l G l a s s e s )

Internship Mountain View, CA

• Location: X's headquarters in Mountain View, CA
• Duration: a flexible 4 mo. to 1 year program based on project team needs and your availability

Throughout your Residency you can expect:

• To be embedded into one of our confidential or public X projects
• To get paid competitively and receive benefits
• To be a part of a lively community of Interns and Residents
• To attend tech-talks with Leaders from across X

About the team:

At X, we are researching volumetric light-matter interactions and laser induced material modifications in specialized glass materials. A core technical challenge we are tackling is the development of the material itself. In particular, we are engineering glass compositions that can reliably undergo these transitions.

About the role:

As a Resident Research Scientist, you will develop new glass materials. You will be responsible for the end-to-end process, including design, high-temperature synthesis, and rigorous characterization & testing of their optical and structural properties for our application of interest.

This role is designed for active PhD students who want to apply their academic and research expertise in an industrial context. You will work independently, supported by a cross-functional team of optics and hardware engineers.

How you will make 10x impact:

• Material synthesis: Design and execute synthesis protocols to generate novel glasses.
• Dopant functionalization: optimize the incorporation of functional dopants to achieve targeted photosensitivity and refractive index modulation.
• Advanced characterization: utilize analytical tools to evaluate performance: spectroscopic, thermal, and structural (XRD/SEM).
• Experimental strategy: Design complex experimental matrices (DOE) to identify optimal formulations for laser-induced modification.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with engineers to test new materials.
• IP generation: Document findings and contribute to the project’s IP portfolio by drafting invention disclosures and technical reports.

What you should have:

• Actively pursuing or recently completed (within 2 years) a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with high-temperature synthesis and characterization of dielectric inorganic glasses or ceramic materials.
• Understanding of glass structure-property relationships and how compositional changes affect optical behavior.

It’d be great if you also had these:

• Current or prior research focuses on functionalizing transparent glass materials
• Experience researching laser-induced modifications in glass and/or other transparent materials.
• Demonstrated ability to translate fundamental research into scalable, repeatable preparation protocols.
• Thriving in ambiguity and a desire to tackle 10X problems.

The US base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $157,000 + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.
Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include benefits.

An Equal Opportunity Workplace

At X, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.