Senior Materials Scientist: Tribology & Advanced Ceramics

Flowserve; Temecula (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; 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 in Temecula, CA is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist – Tribology & Advanced Ceramics to lead development of next‑generation materials for mechanical seals and rotating equipment. This hands‑on role focuses on advancing ceramics, coatings, and surface engineering to improve durability.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of industrial materials R&D experience, strong tribology expertise, and a proven ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and external partners to

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a materials/engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of industrial materials R&D experience.
• Proven experience developing material systems in a commercial environment.
• Strong expertise in tribology, including wear, friction, lubrication, and degradation.
• Experience with advanced ceramics, coatings, carbon materials, composites, polymers or metals.
• Proven ability to design and interpret tribology, characterization, validation, and performance testing.
• Experience conducting failure analysis and root-cause investigations.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of advanced materials, coatings, and surface‑engineered solutions for mechanical seals and rotating equipment.
• Develop material systems to improve seal-face performance, wear resistance, and durability.
• Design tribology, material characterization, and validation testing for friction, wear, lubrication, and thermal performance.
• Perform root‑cause investigations on lab, manufacturing, and field failures and recommend corrective actions.
• Apply microscopy, hardness testing, profilometry, and surface analysis methods.
• Collaborate with product engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to optimize material selection and processing.
• Partner with universities and research organizations to accelerate material innovation.
• Serve as the technical authority for tribology and advanced seal-face materials.

Education

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

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

Job description

Flowserve in Temecula, CA is seeking a Senior Materials Scientist – Tribology & Advanced Ceramics to lead development of next‑generation materials for mechanical seals and rotating equipment. This hands‑on role focuses on advancing ceramics, coatings, and surface engineering to improve durability.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of industrial materials R&D experience, strong tribology expertise, and a proven ability to collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and external partners to