Senior Materials Design Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

QuesTek Innovations LLC is looking for a Senior Materials Design Engineer to join its R&D team in Evanston, IL. This role involves leading R&D initiatives, developing materials simulation tools, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to advance the innovation pipeline. Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and experience with numerical simulation methodologies.

Benefits

401(k) Safe Harbor Plan

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Holidays & Personal Holidays

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Qualifications

• Experience with crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM).
• Advanced proficiency with numerical simulation tools.
• Experience in a research environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D initiatives to develop new ICME capabilities.
• Develop finite element subroutines for simulations.
• Collaborate with teams to deliver project requirements.

Skills

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Physics

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Python

Finite element method (FEM)

Version control systems (e.g., Git)

Job description

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionDescription:

QuesTek Innovations LLC, located in Evanston, IL, a leader in the field of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), is seeking candidates for a Senior Materials Design Engineer in its Research and Development Group to perform work on government and industry R&D projects to solve materials challenges and develop modeling and software tools from initial concept through prototyping and scaling to production. You will collaborate with our cross-functional teams, including computational modelers, alloy designers, experimentalists, software developers, and project managers to deliver exceptional modeling, design, and prototype scientific software to feed the innovation pipeline for the core of QuesTek’s cloud-based ICMD software platform. This is a senior level position; however, all applicants are welcome.

The primary responsibilities and activities of this position will include:

Responsibilities:

• Lead R&D initiatives to develop new ICME capabilities in high impact areas (e.g., fatigue, corrosion, additive process simulation, etc.)
• Develop finite element subroutines or kernels for re-usable simulations that can be wrapped into a python software package.
• Work in a fast-paced innovative environment requiring creativity to deliver on challenging projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project requirements and deliverables.
• Contribute to complex multi-faceted research and development projects.
• Contribute to proposal development and writing to capture external R&D funds.
• Interact directly with industry and government clients.
• Present and technical conferences.
• Develop prototype level python-based scientific software to integrate open-sourced and commercial numerical simulation (e.g., FEM) tools with QuesTek’s core software.
• Take an entrepreneurial approach to developing technology that solves critical problems for clients by applying state-of-the-art research.
• Write clean, well-documented, and maintainable code.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or a related field.
• Experience with crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM).
• Advanced proficiency with numerical simulation tools, especially finite element method.
• Experience working in a research environment.
• Understanding of fundamental mechanics of materials
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong teamwork, communication, and time management skills.

Bonus Skills:

• Graduate level degree in Materials Science and Engineering or Mechanical Engineering .
• Proficient in object-oriented python coding.
• Experience with other ICME approaches (e.g., mechanistic structure-property modeling, Phase Field, CALPHAD, Atomistics, Molecular statics/dynamics, DFT, etc.)
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Proficiency with C++, Fortran, and other coding .
• Experience with commercial FEM/CFD software tools: ANSYS, ABAQUS.
• Experience with open-source FEM software tools: MOOSE, PRISMS.
• Experience with thermophysical process simulations.
• Experience with metal additive manufacturing techniques.
• Experience with topological optimization tools.

Benefits Overview – QuesTek Innovations LLC (2025)

At QuesTek Innovations LLC, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our employees. Our full-time employees (40 hours per week) receive the following benefits:

• 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan: Eligible from the date of hire, with a 3% employer contribution, fully vested immediately. The maximum employee contribution is $23,500 annually, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution for employees aged 50+.
• Medical Insurance (United Healthcare PPO – HSA Plan): QuesTek covers 75% of the premium, with an employer HSA contribution of 50% of the deductible, plus matching of additional employee contributions up to the IRS limit.
• Dental & Vision Insurance (Guardian): Employer covers 75% of the premium.
• Life Insurance: Company-paid coverage of $50,000.
• Supplemental Life Insurance: Option to purchase coverage up to 3 times annual earnings or $250,000.
• Long-Term Insurance: Company-paid coverage at 66.66% of salary (after a 90-day waiting period, up to $8,000/month).
• Extended Medical Leave: Up to 20 paid business days after a 5-day waiting period, plus 10 additional days for intermittent treatment.
• Pre-Tax Benefits: Participation in Section 125 Premium Only Plan, Limited Flexible Spending Account (LFSA), and Transit/Commuter benefits plan.
• Paid Holidays & Personal Holidays: 11 days per year, including 7 scheduled holidays and 4 floating holidays.
• Vacation Leave: 10 days in the first year, increasing annually to a maximum of 25 days after 15 years of service.
• Sick Leave: 5 paid days per year.
• Parental Leave: Available per company policy.
• Full-time staff are eligible to participate in QuesTek's Value Appreciation Rights (VARs) program. This is a long-term incentive program that allows new staff to benefit from the growth in the valuation of the Company.

Due to the sensitive nature of the work associated with this position, QuesTek is only able to consider candidates who are permanent United States or Green Card holders - no exceptions. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Interested candidates shall submit their resumes and a cover letter summarizing how their experience would allow them to excel in this position via the Careers page of https://www.questek.com/. No phone calls, please.

Salary Description

$90,000 to $130,000 per year

Requirements: