Sr. R&D Technician

Roadrunner Studios; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health-care stipend

Equity in a fast-growing startup

Time for self-development and training

Job summary

Halo Materials, based in New Mexico, is looking for a Senior R&D Technician to lead lab buildout and optimize operations. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of R&D experience and a craftsman’s mindset for building high-quality lab infrastructure.

This role includes responsibilities like managing lab technicians and ensuring compliance with EHS regulations while driving the execution of experiments that impact advanced materials for energy systems. Competitive pay and benefits included.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience executing R&D projects.
• Deep familiarity with EHS standards and safe lab operations.
• Comfort working across mechanical, electrical, and process systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead lab buildout efforts, including installation and troubleshooting of equipment.
• Improve lab infrastructure to enable more frequent experiments.
• Mentor a team of lab technicians and ensure EHS compliance.

Skills

Hands-on R&D experience

Troubleshooting skills

Collaboration

EHS compliance knowledge

Job description

About Halo Materials

Halo Materials is a venture‑backed advanced materials company pioneering novel technologies to produce domestic, cost‑competitive graphite for advanced energy and manufacturing supply chains. Headquartered in New Mexico, the company is building a scalable, lower‑emissions process to produce high‑performance graphite critical to batteries, grid storage, EVs, AI datacenters, drones, and consumer electronics.

The leadership team brings decades of experience scaling hard‑tech companies across energy, mobility, and advanced materials, with backgrounds at Tesla, Cruise, Pajarito Powder, and DOE‑funded startups. Backed by Roadrunner Venture Studios, Halo combines research and engineering with operational support, capital access, and a long‑term vision for growth.

Position Summary

Halo Materials is seeking a Senior R&D Technician to accelerate the buildout and operation of our lab and pilot infrastructure. This hands‑on, high‑impact role is for someone who thrives in dynamic R&D environments and enjoys building, fixing, optimizing, and improving complex systems while mentoring others.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead lab buildout efforts, including installation, calibration, testing, and troubleshooting of equipment.
• Enable more parallel, frequent, and automated experiments by improving lab infrastructure and workflows. Identify and implement process improvements that enhance speed, reliability, and experimental throughput.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and high‑performing lab and pilot environment.
• Partner closely with R&D engineers and scientists to align lab operations with evolving experimental priorities.
• Manage and mentor a team of lab technicians, setting standards for craftsmanship, safety, and execution.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) regulations and best practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands‑on experience executing R&D projects, including installing, maintaining, and repairing laboratory or pilot‑scale equipment.
• A craftsman’s mindset: pride in building safe, durable, and high‑quality lab infrastructure.
• Deep familiarity with EHS standards and safe lab operations.
• A proactive, collaborative approach to working with scientists and engineers.
• A track record of identifying problems and owning both diagnosis and solution.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and comfort working across mechanical, electrical, and process systems.
• A “get it done” mentality suited to a fast‑paced startup environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience in adjacent industries where similar high‑temperature, catalytic, carbon, or materials growth processes are used (e.g., petrochemicals, advanced ceramics, specialty chemicals, battery materials, semiconductors, metallurgy, or industrial gas processing).

What We Look For (Beyond the Resume)

• A track record of execution—how you design experiments, make decisions with imperfect data, and drive results matters as much as where you’ve worked.
• Comfort operating in both research and production environments; experience in one or both is valuable, but your ability to move science toward application is what counts.
• Ownership mentality with high accountability and curiosity.
• Grit, resilience, and an ability to turn ambiguity into actionable next steps.
• Entrepreneurial speed balanced with technical discipline.

Why Join Halo Materials?

• Strengthen Energy & Supply Chains – Work on advanced materials that directly impact batteries, energy systems, and U.S. manufacturing resilience.
• Scale Breakthrough Graphite Technology – Help scale a breakthrough graphite technology from lab experimentation to real commercial production.
• Rigorous Science, Startup Velocity – Join a mission‑driven team that values rigorous science, fast execution, and taking care of its people.
• Technical Ownership & Autonomy – Take meaningful ownership in a technically ambitious environment where your contributions shape the direction of the company.
• Competitive pay, full benefits, and equity – Competitive compensation, strong benefits, and the opportunity to grow quickly inside a serious deep‑tech venture backed by experienced builders.
• Benefits:
  • An independent role with a supportive and flexible work environment.
  • Time for self‑development, research, training, conferences, or certification schemes.
  • Full range of competitive benefits including a health‑care stipend and equity in a fast‑growing startup.