Sr. Scientist - Materials & Mechanics

Socket.dev; City of Corning (NY); On-site; USD 81,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses and incentives

Retirement plan (401k)

Health benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Job summary

Corning is seeking a scientist to advance reliability assessment and performance evaluation of brittle materials across advanced applications. You will combine hands-on lab work with rigorous analysis to uncover degradation and failure mechanisms and to develop novel characterization approaches.

The role requires strong scientific judgment, independence, and multi-disciplinary teamwork to improve product performance in inorganic brittle materials and optical thin films.

Qualifications

• PhD in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or related field; MS with five years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong foundation in mechanics of materials and brittle material behavior.
• Experience with inorganic brittle materials, optical thin films, fracture mechanics, or experimental mechanics.
• Experience with mechanical testing, materials characterization, data analysis, and reliability assessments.
• Experience with experimental design, scientific problem solving, and communication.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support R&D objectives.
• Plan experiments and assess material performance using first principles insights.
• Analyze reliability and failure modes to identify mechanisms and properties.
• Evaluate reliability of brittle coating-based systems under realistic conditions.
• Coordinate with laboratories and stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
• Compile results and prepare reports for project partners and leaders.
• Communicate technical results and recommendations through documentation and presentations.

Skills

Mechanics of materials

Brittle materials

Materials characterization

Mechanical testing

Experimental design

Data analysis

Technical communication

Education

PhD in mechanical engineering

MS in materials engineering

Tools

SEM

TEM

SIMS

Universal testing machines

Indentation systems

Job description

The company built on breakthroughs.
Join us.

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations– not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with:

• Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
• Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
• Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
• Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences
• Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation
• Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

Role Purpose

This role supports reliability assessment and performance evaluation of brittle materials across advanced applications. The scientist will focus on mechanical and materials characterization, failure-mode analysis and reliability assessment to develop fundamental insights into material behavior while improving product performance for inorganic brittle materials, optical thin films, and related material systems. The position also includes scientific investigation and data-driven problem solving through modeling and analysis.

The successful candidate will combine hands‑on laboratory experimentation with rigorous technical analysis to investigate degradation and failure mechanisms, quantify reliability risks, and develop novel characterization approaches. This role requires strong scientific judgment, technical independence, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams of scientists, engineers, and project leaders to support research and development objectives.
• Plan experiments and assess material performance using first principles‑based insight.
• Analyze reliability and failure modes to determine the mechanisms and material properties that drive product performance.
• Evaluate reliability of brittle coating‑based systems by connecting material behavior to realistic product‑use conditions.
• Coordinate with laboratories and stakeholders to deliver project outcomes.
• Compile results and prepare communication materials for project partners and leaders.
• Communicate technical results, conclusions, and recommendations through reports, presentations, and project updates.

Experiences/Education - Required

• Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or a related field; OR M.S. degree with five years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong foundation in mechanical and materials engineering principles.
• Demonstrated research experience in inorganic brittle materials, optical thin films, fracture mechanics, or experimental mechanics.
• Strong knowledge of mechanics of materials, brittle material behavior, failure‑mode analysis, mechanical testing, and materials characterization.
• Experience evaluating material behavior under mechanical, thermal, and environmental application conditions, including related reliability assessments.
• Experience with experimental design, data analysis, and scientific problem solving.
• Strong hands‑on technical aptitude with proven written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated through external presentations and/or peer‑reviewed publications.

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Postdoctoral experience in thin films or materials mechanics.
• Experience using characterization tools such as SEM, TEM, SIMS, universal testing machines, and indentation systems.
• Experience with experimental techniques such as DIC, photoelasticity, high‑speed imaging, and Kolsky bar testing.
• Experience designing and conducting accelerated, surrogate, or field‑correlated mechanical tests.
• Familiarity with instrumentation, data acquisition systems, CAD software, mathematics tools, and data analysis platforms.
• Familiarity with thin‑film deposition processes, including PVD, CVD, and ALD.
• Experience applying AI/ML tools to opto‑mechanical behavior analysis.
• Experience with numerical simulation or analytical modeling methods.
• Established record of peer‑reviewed publications, conference presentations, patents, or other research contributions

This position supports immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $80,984.00-$111,353.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job‑related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

A job that shapes a life.

Corning offers you the total package.

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company‑wide bonuses and long‑term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
• As part of our commitment to your financial well‑being, we provide a 100% company‑paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
• Our health and well‑being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company‑paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.
• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis ofrace, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability,veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [e-mail].