Senior Materials Scientist

FLOWSERVE CORPORATE; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Retirement Planning & Financial Well-»

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and HS

Short- and Long-Term Disability

Parental Leave

Life, Supplemental Life, and AD&D

Job summary

Flowserve is seeking a highly experienced Senior Materials Scientist – Tribology & Advanced Ceramics to lead development of next-generation materials for mechanical seals and rotating equipment. The role focuses on tribology, advanced ceramics, coatings, and surface-engineered solutions to improve durability and reliability.

The position drives innovation across material systems, guides testing and validation, and collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, and academic partners to extend

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 10+ years of industrial materials R&D experience.
• Experience advancing material systems in a commercial environment.
• Strong tribology expertise: friction, wear, lubrication, and degradation mechanisms.
• Experience with advanced ceramics, coatings, carbon materials, composites, polymers, metals, or other critical material systems.
• Proven ability to design and interpret tribology, material characterization, validation, and performance testing.
• Experience with failure analysis and root-cause investigations.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of advanced materials, coatings, and surface-engineered solutions for seal and rotating equipment.
• Develop material systems to improve seal-face performance and durability.
• Design and execute tribology and material characterization tests.
• Perform root-cause investigations for failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Apply advanced characterization techniques (optical EM, hardness, profilometry, surface analysis).
• Collaborate with product engineering, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to optimize materials and processing.
• Partner with universities and research organizations to accelerate innovation.
• Act as technical authority for tribology and seal-face materials across teams.

Skills

Tribology expertise

Materials science background

Problem solving

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Laboratory testing

Education

Master's degree in a technical discipline

PhD (preferred)

Tools

Electron microscopy

Profilometry

Hardness testing

Surface analysis techniques

Coatings development

Job description

Company Overview:

Flowserve is a global manufacturer of pumps, valves, seals, and aftermarket services, delivering comprehensive flow control solutions that support essential industries such as energy, clean water, and pharmaceuticals. If you're looking for a culture built on ingenuity, innovation, and excellence, Flowserve offers the opportunity to put your experience in motion. Whether you're an individual contributor or a people leader, you'll find meaningful opportunities for professional growth, competitive rewards, and a workplace grounded in our core values: People, Safety, Integrity, Ownership and Ingenuity. At Flowserve, we're inspired by what we can achieve together—creating extraordinary flow control solutions that strengthen today's world while building tomorrow.

Senior Materials Scientist – Tribology & Advanced Ceramics

Your Role and Impact

Flowserve is seeking a highly experienced Senior Materials Scientist – Tribology & Advanced Ceramics to lead the development of next-generation materials that improve the performance, reliability, and durability of mechanical seals and rotating equipment.

This newly created role represents a strategic investment in building an advanced materials capability within Flowserve. As the organization's technical expert in tribology and seal‑face materials, you will drive innovation across advanced ceramics, coatings, carbon materials, composites, and surface engineering technologies. Your work will directly influence product reliability, extend equipment life, and help solve some of the industry's most challenging wear and friction‑related problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research and development of advanced materials, coatings, and surface‑engineered solutions for mechanical seal and rotating equipment applications.

• Develop innovative material systems that improve seal‑face performance, wear resistance, dry‑running capability, and overall product durability.

• Design and execute tribology, material characterization, and validation testing to evaluate friction, wear, lubrication behavior, and thermal performance.

• Perform root‑cause investigations on laboratory, manufacturing, and field failures, identifying degradation mechanisms and recommending corrective actions.

• Apply advanced characterization techniques including optical microscopy, electron microscopy, hardness testing, profilometry, and surface analysis methods.

• Partner with product engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to optimize material selection, processing methods, and product performance.

• Collaborate with universities, research organizations, laboratories, and technology partners to accelerate material innovation and development.

• Serve as the technical authority for tribology and advanced seal‑face materials, providing guidance across engineering, manufacturing, and customer‑facing teams.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.

• 10+ years of industrial experience in materials research and development, advanced materials engineering, or related fields.

• Demonstrated experience developing and advancing material systems, formulations, or material technologies in a commercial environment.

• Strong expertise in tribology, including friction, wear, lubrication behavior, contact mechanics, and degradation mechanisms.

• Experience with advanced ceramics, coatings, carbon materials, composites, polymers, metals, or other performance‑critical material systems.

• Proven experience designing and interpreting tribology, material characterization, validation, and performance testing.

• Experience conducting failure analysis and structured root‑cause investigations for material or product performance issues.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within a cross‑functional global organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.

• Experience supporting mechanical seals, pumps, compressors, bearings, mixers, or other rotating equipment applications.

• Expertise in advanced ceramics development, processing, and characterization.

• Experience with surface engineering technologies, wear‑resistant coatings, and material performance enhancement solutions.

• Experience working with universities, research institutions, or externally sponsored research programs.

• Patent, publication, invention disclosure, or technical thought leadership experience.

• Experience with silicon carbide, carbon materials, composites, graphene‑based technologies, or advanced seal‑face materials.

Preferred Locations

• Kalamazoo, Michigan

• Temecula, California

• Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

This position is highly hands‑on and laboratory focused. Regular onsite presence is preferred to support testing, research, analysis, and collaboration activities.

What We Can Offer You

At Flowserve, you'll find a range of options to support your physical, mental, and financial well‑being while building a rewarding career with a global industry leader.

Our benefits include:

• Competitive Salary

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Retirement Planning & Financial Wellness Resources

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Short- and Long-Term Disability

• Parental Leave

• Life, Supplemental Life, Child, Spousal, and AD&D Insurance

Benefits may vary by location and employment status

Req ID

R-21825

Job Family Group

Engineering

Job Family

EN Mechanical Engineer

EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans. Flowserve will also not discriminate against an applicant or employee for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing their pay or, in certain circumstances, the pay of their co‑workers. Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

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