Materials Scientist/Engineer - Program Lead
About The Position
Idaho National Laboratory’s Department of Materials Science and Manufacturing seeks an experienced Materials Scientist, Materials Engineer, or Metallurgist to lead research, development, qualification, and certification programs. The role focuses on materials science, materials engineering, metallurgy, materials performance, and manufacturing process development—particularly for high-strength, lightweight, oxidation-resistant metal alloys and defense applications. Integrating artificial intelligence, digital engineering, Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), modeling, and simulation into materials development, processing, and automation is important. Experience with additional advanced manufacturing techniques is a plus. The successful candidate will serve as a principal investigator and program lead, conduct and direct research, lead multidisciplinary technical teams, write proposals, and secure funding from public and private organizations. The position also serves as a long-term technical and strategic leader, developing new missions and programs aligned with departmental, directorate, and laboratory priorities and helping execute the organization’s broader strategic plan. The position is based at INL’s Idaho Falls facility. The team works a 9x80 schedule, with every other Friday off. This is a testing-designated position requiring a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing. The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
Requirements
- Level 4: M.Sc. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited program and 6 years of related post-M.Sc. experience, or a Ph.D. in one of these fields and 4 years of related post-Ph.D. experience.
- Level 5: M.Sc. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited program and 8 years of related post-M.Sc. experience, or a Ph.D. in one of these fields and 6 years of related post-Ph.D. experience.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for the clearance.
- At least 4 years of direct experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
- Demonstrated experience within the Department of War (DOW) or the broader defense industrial base.
- Experience managing programs or projects with a total budget of $20 million or greater.
- Knowledge of AI and its use in relevant technical areas.
- Knowledge and experience with materials qualification and certification processes, such as MIL-STD, AMS, ISO, and ASTM frameworks, as applied to defense platforms.
- Track record of efficient mission execution and management of medium- to large-scale projects, delivering on time and on budget from requirements definition through qualification or certification milestones.
- Experience making technical decisions and providing direction at the medium- to large-scale project level.
- Ability to understand customer needs and execute them effectively.
- Demonstrated effective teamwork and ability to work across organizational boundaries.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including briefing senior government and military stakeholders and program executives, and translating technical risk into program and schedule impacts for non-technical leadership.
- Experience in structure/property characterization of materials, including development of new materials and materials characterization techniques.
Nice To Haves
- Ph.D. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
- Direct experience with DOW materials certification and qualification for weapons platforms or systems, such as MMPDS, Qualified Products Lists, airworthiness or flightworthiness processes, or nuclear certification.
- Direct experience with DOW manufacturing industrial contractors.
- Experience applying ICME, digital engineering, and/or AI tools to accelerate qualification timelines.
- Experience with agentic AI, automated reasoning, or human-in-the-loop decision workflows applied to technical or engineering assessments.
- Experience developing or applying digital twin models to support materials or component qualification.
- Experience working across multiple military branches or similarly complex multi-stakeholder, multi-authority environments.
- Experience with materials qualification or fielding in forward-deployed, austere, or resource-constrained environments.
- Experience engaging with standards bodies, such as ASTM or SAE, to codify guidance or specifications.
- Experience in additional advanced manufacturing techniques.
Responsibilities
- Lead a qualification and certification program supporting armed services operations and industrial-base manufacturing, with applications typically involving military defensive and offensive components.
- Direct materials performance, materials development, and manufacturing process development for high-strength, lightweight, oxidation-resistant metal alloys.
- Integrate AI, digital engineering, ICME, modeling, and simulation into the development of systems, processes, and automation for materials performance and advanced materials processing.
- Conduct research and development and lead multidisciplinary technical teams.
- Serve as principal investigator and program lead; write proposals and secure public- and private-sector funding.
- Independently guide others in laboratory research studies that demonstrate new principles and concepts in advanced materials development.
- Provide long-term technical and strategic leadership by developing new materials science and engineering missions and programs.
- Develop programs for advanced materials development and performance assessment in support of departmental, directorate, and laboratory strategic priorities.
- Assist the leadership team in executing the organization’s broader strategic plan.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to a 4.8% match for regular positions
- Paid time off (personal leave)
- Employee Education Program, including tuition assistance for eligible positions
- Comprehensive relocation package
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
Senior
