Senior Thermoplastics Engineer — Compounding & Printing

Lyten, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tier-based bonus

Equity

Healthcare

Dental

Vision

401K

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Lyten, Inc. in San Jose, CA is seeking a Senior Materials Engineer to own the upstream development of thermoplastic compounds and 3D printing filaments.

You will design formulations, lead compounding and extrusion, and ensure first articles meet specifications while interfacing with product management for launch. The role emphasizes root-cause analysis, data-driven decisions from rheology to mechanical testing, and hands-on processing on a production floor with travel to supplier sites ~10% of

Qualifications

• BS with 5+ years of experience, or MS with 3+ years, 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.
• Hands-on experience with thermoplastic compounding and melt processing, particularly twin screw extrusion.
• Demonstrated engineering problem-solving: a structured approach to root cause analysis (DOE, failure analysis, process characterization).
• 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.
• Willingness to travel roughly 10% on a production floor and to supplier sites.
• Clear written and verbal communication with suppliers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop thermoplastic and filament formulations 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.

Skills

Polymer rheology

Twin screw extrusion

Root cause analysis

DOE

Materials characterization

3D printing

Education

BS in Polymer Science/Engineering

MS in Polymer Science/Engineering

PhD in Polymer Science/Engineering

Tools

Rheometer

DMA

DSC

Mechanical testing

3D printer

Job description

Lyten, Inc. in San Jose, CA is seeking a Senior Materials Engineer to own the upstream development of thermoplastic compounds and 3D printing filaments.

You will design formulations, lead compounding and extrusion, and ensure first articles meet specifications while interfacing with product management for launch. The role emphasizes root-cause analysis, data-driven decisions from rheology to mechanical testing, and hands-on processing on a production floor with travel to supplier sites ~10% of