Scientific Glassblower (Custom Laboratory Glass Shop)

Confidential; United States; Remote; USD 41,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Zekai is seeking a Scientific Glassblower for a 100% remote contract role to support a customer’s advanced laboratory project. You will interpret customer sketches and translate them into precise borosilicate or quartz glassware, ensuring manufacturability, durability, and proper seals.

The role emphasizes feedback on design choices and developing accurate quotations. Ideal candidates have hands-on experience in university or industry glass shops and can communicate technical insights clearly.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience in a university or company scientific glass shop.
• Expert proficiency with both lathe and bench glassworking in borosilicate and quartz.
• Strong ability to interpret technical sketches into buildable designs.
• Experience recommending annealing schedules for different glass types and assemblies.
• Familiarity with stress analysis, wall thickness considerations, and optimizing joint/seal configurations.
• Proven skill in producing high-quality glass-to-metal or graded seals for laboratory use.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, particularly in technical and consultative contexts.

Responsibilities

• Review customer sketches for manufacturability, wall thickness, stress, and design integrity.
• Provide technical guidance for lathe and bench operations in borosilicate and quartz.
• Advise on glass-to-metal or graded seal formation and joint selection.
• Document annealing schedules to ensure stress reduction and reliability.
• Inspect designs and suggest manufacturability improvements.
• Develop accurate quotations based on complexity and material needs.
• Deliver written and verbal feedback on risks and alternatives.

Skills

Lathe glassworking

Bench glassworking

Interpret technical sketches

Annealing schedules

Glass-to-metal seals

Stress analysis

Technical communication

Job description

Role Title: Scientific Glassblower (Custom Laboratory Glass Shop)

Role Type: Contractor

Location: Remote

our partner is engaging Scientific Glassblower (Custom Laboratory Glass Shop) contributors to support a customer's advanced laboratory project. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input. No prior experience in AI is required — your domain knowledge is what matters. This opportunity centers on interpreting customer sketches and turning them into precise, manufacturable laboratory glassware, drawing upon your deep understanding of borosilicate and quartz fabrication. Assignments involve critically evaluating designs for feasibility, durability, and optimal manufacturing processes, as well as selecting appropriate seals and annealing schedules. Effective written and verbal communication are essential for providing clear, actionable feedback on design choices and sharing your professional insights.

Scope of Work

• Review and analyze customer sketches to determine manufacturability, with attention to wall thickness, stress points, and overall design integrity.


• Construct technical guidance for lathe and bench operations in borosilicate and quartz, emphasizing custom apparatus fabrication.


• Advise on best practices for glass-to-metal or graded seal formation, including selection of joint types and materials compatibility.


• Recommend and document appropriate annealing schedules, ensuring stress reduction and structural reliability in finished glassware.


• Inspect proposed designs for potential challenges, providing suggestions to improve manufacturability or performance.


• Develop accurate, detailed quotations based on complexity, material requirements, and feasibility of customer requests.


• Deliver clear written and verbal feedback on project risks, trade-offs, and alternative approaches as required by the project scope.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive hands‑on experience in a university or company scientific glass shop, fabricating custom laboratory glass apparatus.


• Expert proficiency with both lathe and bench glassworking techniques in borosilicate and quartz.


• Strong background in interpreting technical sketches and translating them into buildable designs.


• Demonstrated ability to recommend and execute appropriate annealing schedules for different glass types and assemblies.


• Familiarity with stress analysis, wall thickness considerations, and optimizing joint and seal configurations.


• Proven skill in producing high-quality glass-to-metal or graded seals for laboratory use.


• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, particularly in technical and consultative contexts.

This is a 100% remote contract role, open to applicants worldwide in the countries the employer accepts.