Principal Investigator / Senior Scientist

Hummingbird Scientific•Lacey, WA

17d

About The Position

Hummingbird Scientific is seeking a Principal Investigator / Senior Scientist to lead grant-funded research, manage multidisciplinary R&D projects, and develop and validate scientific instrumentation. The role builds the company’s research program by identifying relevant funding opportunities, writing competitive grant proposals, and translating scientific ideas into practical capabilities and new products. The position combines scientific research and hands-on technical problem-solving with leadership of projects from proposal development through execution and reporting. Working with engineers and other technical contributors, the successful candidate translates research objectives into working hardware, conducts experiments, troubleshoots technical challenges, and validates new systems. The role provides technical direction to multidisciplinary project teams by assigning responsibilities, establishing priorities, tracking progress, and coordinating resources across functional groups, including teams whose members report to other managers. The successful candidate takes ownership of project outcomes, including delegated work, and balances technical excellence with timely delivery. Effective cross-disciplinary communication is essential, as is the ability to present research findings through technical reports, publications, and presentations. The role brings people together to solve technical problems and turn challenging concepts into functioning instruments used by scientists around the world.

Requirements

PhD in materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, or a closely related discipline.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex R&D projects from initial concept through technical planning, execution, and delivery.
Demonstrated success in developing and submitting competitive grant proposals and securing grant funding.
Demonstrated experience developing, troubleshooting, and validating scientific instrumentation or experimental setups.
Strong ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly and connect detailed science with broader impact.
Expert-level, hands-on experience in TEM, SEM, and/or X-ray synchrotron–based experiments.
Demonstrated experience supervising and directing technical personnel within multidisciplinary R&D or engineering projects.
Independent, proactive, and organized approach, with ownership of project outcomes.

Nice To Haves

Experience with in-situ or operando microscopy.
Experience in a small business, startup, or applied R&D environment.

Responsibilities

Lead grant-funded research and manage multidisciplinary R&D projects.
Identify relevant funding opportunities and develop and submit competitive grant proposals.
Lead complex projects from proposal development through technical planning, execution, delivery, and reporting.
Develop, troubleshoot, and validate scientific instrumentation, experimental setups, and new systems.
Translate research objectives into working hardware and conduct experiments.
Provide technical direction to multidisciplinary project teams by assigning responsibilities, setting priorities, tracking progress, and coordinating resources across functional groups.
Take ownership of overall project outcomes, including delegated work, while balancing technical excellence and timely delivery.
Communicate technical ideas across disciplines and convey research findings through technical reports, publications, and presentations.