Chemist/Polymer Scientist (Ph.D.)

Exponent Inc.•Menlo Park, CA

20h•$140,000 - $162,000•Onsite

About The Position

Exponent is seeking a Chemist/Polymer Scientist for their Polymers & Chemistry Practice in Menlo Park, CA. This role involves working within an interdisciplinary team on diverse projects across various industries including pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer products, construction, infrastructure, and automotive. The position requires some travel and collaboration with other Exponent offices and practices. A long-term objective for this role is business development, including acquiring new projects and clients. Exponent is a premium engineering and scientific consulting firm dedicated to solving complex client challenges. With a vision to create a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world, Exponent leverages multidisciplinary teams of experts. The firm has a rich history of advising clients on technologically complex products and processes, ensuring product safety, and addressing sustainability challenges. Exponent boasts over 950 consultants, with more than 640 holding Ph.D.s across over 90 disciplines and operating in over 30 offices globally.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, or a related field.
Well-developed understanding of small molecule, polymer, and materials characterization.
Strong background and hands-on experience in polymer/chemical characterization techniques, such as FTIR, GC-MS, LC-MS, GPC, NMR, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, DSC, TGA, and DMA.
Experience with the design, assembly, and execution of novel or non-standard testing.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
Must be able to convey complex technical information to individuals in engineering, business, legal, and related industries.
Ability to work within project teams with a strong desire to contribute; have potential for technical and project managerial leadership.
Strong educational and publication credentials.
Presently legally authorized to work in the United States. No immigration sponsorship or processing required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of polymer bulk physical properties, and/or polymer processing preferred.
Knowledge of medical device testing and manufacturing standards, such as ISO 10993, ISO 13485, ISO 14971.

Responsibilities

Inspecting, testing, and analyzing various polymeric materials to assess their specifications and/or reliability in a variety of applications from a wide range of industries.
Performing root cause investigations on failing or underperforming materials/components by scientifically examining the development, manufacturing, or end-use environment of products specified for use in the construction, medical device, consumer electronics, and pharmaceutical industries.
Analyzing information and conveying technical conclusions to individuals in engineering, business, law, and industry, as well as communicating testing rationale in the context of product development, product defect claims, and intellectual property disputes.