Senior Scientist - Formulation & Composites

Cambium; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) matching

Professional development reimbursement

Equity opportunities

Job summary

Cambium seeks a Senior Scientist to lead polymer/resin formulation for high-temperature thermosets, guiding from benchtop to commercialization. You will collaborate with leaders, scientists, and technicians, oversee technology transfer, and optimize processes in a hands-on lab environment. The role requires a Ph.D.

in a relevant field and 5+ years in advanced materials development, with a focus on manufacturability and safety compliance. U.S.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required or equivalent industrial experience in a relevant field.
• Proven ability to design and execute experiments in high-performance materials.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Guide design and formulation of high-temperature resins for products.
• Mentor juniors; spend substantial time in the lab.
• Plan experiments with chemists/engineers; execute DoEs.

Skills

Strong written and verbal comms

Laboratory research skills

DoE design of experiments

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry/Materials Science

Job description

Senior Scientist - Formulation and Composites

Defense, aerospace and other high-performance applications demand new material solutions stronger, lighter, more resilient tested and delivered faster than traditionally available. Cambium is disrupting advanced materials development, from AI-driven molecular design to agile domestic manufacturing. Whether enabling hypersonic flight or protecting critical systems, our solutions push the limits of what’s possible. Cambium solves mission-critical problems in defense and industry. Our team of world-class scientists and engineers was deliberately built to take on those challenges. Come join us and revolutionize advanced materials for defense, aerospace, and beyond.

THE ROLE

Cambium is seeking a Senior Scientist to join our polymer/composite materials engineering team. In this role, you will guide the design, formulation, and manufacturability of polymer resins, with a focus on high-temperature thermosets, from the benchtop to commercialization.

This is a hands-on position where you will work closely with leadership, scientists/engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams to develop new materials, assist with laboratory operations and technology transfer, and contribute to process optimization efforts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support senior leadership in driving new product development through guiding the design, development, and execution of formulating high-performance resins into various product forms (e.g. film adhesives, composites, coatings, foams)
• Mentor and work with junior scientists and technicians to advance products/product forms, focusing on manufacturability. This is a hands-on role and you will be expected to spend considerable time in the laboratory.
• Work collaboratively with synthetic chemists and engineers to plan experiments, including DoEs, to evaluate new additives and develop new formulations.
• Analyze data and document conclusions in reports and presentations.
• Provide regular progress reports to senior leadership.
• Communicate clearly and concisely key concepts, development status, performance outcomes, and lessons learned to your coworkers, investors, and collaborators.
• Prioritize safety and OSHA, EPA, and local health and safety requirements.
• Create and contribute to the product demonstration and engineering teams in a manner consistent with Cambium’s mission and values and the growth of Cambium’s business

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Ph.D. in a relevant technology field (i.e., Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, etc.) or equivalent industrial experience
• At least 5 years of post-graduate industrial experience in the development of advanced materials and polymers for use in high-performance applications
• Strong understanding of the fundamentals of polymers and materials science
• Advanced knowledge of manufacturing and/or formulating polymer composites and/or adhesives
• Willingness to learn and contribute in a hands-on laboratory environment
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Due to the nature of the work, U.S. citizenship is required

SALARY: $135,000 - $166,000 annually

BENEFITS: Cambium offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits plan. This includes excellent medical/dental/vision benefits, and a matching 401(k) plan, professional development reimbursement, and an opportunity for equity for most full-time positions.