Senior Materials Engineer, Thermoplastics and Compounding

Lyten; San Jose (CA); Sur place; USD 120 000 - 170 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Lyten seeks a seasoned polymer engineer to own upstream development of thermoplastic compounds and 3D printing filaments. You will design formulations, lead compounding and extrusion, and deliver first articles ready for launch.

You will diagnose root causes, guide process improvements, and ensure performance from lab to production while collaborating with suppliers and the Product Manager.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in polymer-related field with industry experience.
• Strong understanding of polymer structure-property relationships.
• Hands-on thermoplastic compounding and melt processing.
• Experience with DOE, failure analysis, and root-cause tracing.
• Experience with fillers/additives in thermoplastics and dispersion.

Responsabilités

• Design and develop thermoplastic formulations and filaments.
• Lead compounding and extrusion development from lab to production.
• Characterize materials with rheology, thermal analysis, and mechanical testing.
• Print with new materials and diagnose printability issues.
• Define specs, test methods, and acceptance criteria for first articles.
• Drive root cause analyses and corrective actions on issues.
• Collaborate with Product Manager for launch handoff and feedback.
• Document processes and share learnings across the team.

Connaissances

Polymer science

Root cause analysis

DOE

3D printing

Twin screw extrusion

Data interpretation

Materials engineering

Communication

Formation

BS in Polymer Science or related

MS in Polymer/Chemical Engineering

PhD in Polymer Science or related

Outils

Rheometer

Thermal analysis equipment

Mechanical testing equipment

Description du poste

Lyten is leading an industrial revolution through Lyten 3D Graphene™, a breakthrough supermaterial unlocking a new generation of products - from lithium-sulfur batteries and energy storage systems to concrete admixtures, lightweight composites, and next-generation sensors that are revolutionizing industries. Together, these innovations are making a massive global improvement and driving real-world impact across energy, mobility, construction, and defense.

At Lyten, we believe the most meaningful careers begin with purpose - and with people who want to make a difference. We're not just developing advanced supermaterials - we're about to change the world as we know it, reshaping how energy is stored, how products are built, and how progress is made.

We're entering an exciting growth phase, scaling production across the U.S. and Europe and expanding our team of engineers, scientists, and innovators.

We develop and commercialize advanced thermoplastic compounds and 3D printing filaments. This role owns the upstream half of product development: you'll design materials, compound them, test them, print with them, and deliver a first product that is ready to hand off for launch. You'll work hand in hand with the Product Manager, who carries each product through launch and commercial support, and you'll stay accountable for how your materials perform when they are printed and used.

The work sits between materials science, manufacturing, and the customer. A strong candidate understands polymer processing well enough to diagnose a compounding, printing, or performance issue, trace it to its root cause (the material, the process, or the application), and fix it. We want someone who sees a problem and moves toward a solution, and who is motivated by shipping reliable products rather than by open-ended research. You don't need prior additive manufacturing experience. You need the compounding and processing depth, and the engineering problem-solving discipline, to do the job here.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop thermoplastic and filament formulations, including selection of resins, fillers, and additives, to meet performance, processability, and cost targets
• Lead compounding and twin screw extrusion development, from lab and pilot scale through first runs at contract manufacturers and toll processors, including trial planning, process parameter definition, and troubleshooting
• Characterize materials using rheology, thermal analysis, and mechanical testing, and use the data to guide formulation and process decisions
• Print with and test new materials to evaluate printability and performance, and trace print issues back to the material or the process
• Deliver the first product: define specifications, test methods, and acceptance criteria, and confirm the first article meets them
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action on development and early production issues, distinguishing material, process, and application causes
• Partner with the Product Manager on a clean handoff to launch, including specifications, process windows, test data, and documentation, and to bring customer and field feedback into material design
• Document processes, findings, and lessons learned so that knowledge is shared across the team

Required Qualifications

• BS with 5+ years of experience, or MS with 3+ years of experience, or PhD in Polymer Science, Polymer/Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
• Working knowledge of polymer structure-to-property relationships and polymer rheology, and the ability to apply it to real production and development problems
• Hands-on experience with thermoplastic compounding and melt processing, particularly twin screw extrusion, in a production or scale-up setting
• Demonstrated engineering problem-solving: a structured approach to root cause analysis (for example DOE, failure analysis, process characterization) and a record of driving issues to resolution
• Experience with fillers and additives in thermoplastics, such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, or graphene, including dispersion and the effect on processing and properties
• Familiarity with polymer characterization methods, including rheology, thermal analysis, and mechanical testing, and the ability to interpret data and act on it
• Ability to run and interpret 3D print tests, with familiarity with FFF/FDM printing
• Comfortable working on a production floor and traveling to supplier sites, roughly 10 percent
• Clear written and verbal communication with suppliers, internal teams

Nice to Have

• In-depth experience with 3D printing or additive manufacturing, particularly FFF/FDM filament
• Experience with filament extrusion, including diameter control and spooling
• Familiarity with engineering thermoplastics s