Materials Manufacturing Innovation Engineer
About The Position
Formlabs is seeking a Materials Manufacturing Innovation Engineer to invent and establish new manufacturing processes for specialty materials used in 3D printing. This is an R&D-focused role centered on developing manufacturing technologies rather than tuning existing equipment or following conventional scale-up procedures. The engineer will create proof-of-concept pilot processes, develop mixing and dispersion approaches, and explore smart control systems that can detect production issues early. The role owns an innovation roadmap for materials manufacturing and takes new approaches from initial concept through bench experiments, prototype equipment, pilot runs, and a business case for production deployment. The engineer will work closely with R&D to develop materials and manufacturing methods together, evaluate external technologies, and transfer proven innovations to plant teams with appropriate documentation and training. Success includes proving at least one new manufacturing technology at bench or pilot scale and establishing a clear case for production.
Requirements
- At least 4 years of industry experience building new manufacturing technology in chemicals, coatings, adhesives, inks, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, or a similar field.
- A track record of introducing manufacturing methods that affected product quality, cost, or throughput.
- Strong grounding in materials manufacturing science, including mixing, heat and mass transfer, and rheology of viscous or filled fluids.
- Ability to work from first-principles analysis through bench prototypes and pilot runs.
- Experience using designed experiments and data to evaluate ideas and build a business case for deployment.
- Strong communication skills with cross-functional stakeholders.
- BS, MS, or PhD in chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, polymer science, or a related field.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with continuous manufacturing or process intensification.
- Experience with inline sensors, process analytical technology (PAT), or chemometrics.
- Machine learning or AI applied to manufacturing data.
- Experience with UV-curable or other photoreactive materials.
- Polymer powder handling experience for future SLS materials work.
- Experience with modeling, automation, or data tools such as Python, COMSOL, or PLC/DCS.
Responsibilities
- Develop an innovation roadmap identifying manufacturing technologies that could improve quality, reduce cost, or enable production of new materials.
- Take new manufacturing approaches from concept through bench experiments, prototype equipment, pilot runs, and a business case for deployment.
- Work with R&D to co-invent materials and the manufacturing methods used to produce them.
- Identify and evaluate existing technologies that could improve cost, throughput, or quality, and bring promising ideas into Formlabs.
- Transfer proven manufacturing innovations to plant teams, including documentation and training.
- Prove at least one new manufacturing technology at bench or pilot scale and build a clear case for production.
Benefits
- Equity program with RSUs.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- 401(k) matching and access to financial advisors.
- Paid parental leave of up to 16 weeks.
- Tenure-based paid sabbatical leave of up to 6 weeks.
- Flexible Out of Office Plan.
- On-site parking and pre-tax commuter benefits.
- On-site lunches, snacks, beverages, and treats.
- Sponsored professional development opportunities.
- Opt-in culture events.
- Unlimited 3D prints.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
