Process Scientist

MacroCycle Technologies • Cambridge, MA

12h

About The Position

At MacroCycle, we’re building a new approach to textile recycling. Today, most textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated, but our SolvoGenesis™ technology transforms that waste back into high-quality polyester fibers. By closing the loop on polyester, we’re helping to reduce landfill waste, lower production emissions, and move the textile industry toward a truly circular future. You'll join a lean, hands-on R&D team working directly with our CTO and founders. As one of MacroCycle's early scientific hires, you'll help define our experimental processes and see your work move quickly from bench-scale discovery to real-world application with our customers.

Requirements

• A background in polymer and separation science (academic or industrial R&D) is required.
• PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering, ideally familiar with PET, Spandex, Cotton, Dyes, Pigments
• 5+ years of hands-on experimental chemistry experience (PhD years count)
• Familiarity with polymer purification techniques: precipitation, filtration, adsorption, liquid/solid separation, distillation
• Familiarity with analytical techniques such as NMR, GPC, GC, LC-MS, FTIR, ICP, DSC, or MALDI-TOF, and chemistry software like ChemDraw or MestreNova
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings clearly through graphs and slides
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, with a commitment to careful, high-quality lab work
• Ability to interface with technicians, the company founders, and customer representatives
• A can-do mindset and enthusiasm for tackling new challenges

Nice To Haves

• Prior textile experience is a bonus, but we are happy to train the right candidate.
• Experience scaling chemical processes from bench-top to pilot or production scale, particularly in polymer purification or separation systems
• Familiarity with PET, spandex, cotton, dyes, or pigments

Responsibilities

• Develop new chemistries to purify and upgrade various blended polyester wastes delivered by MacroCycle supply chain partners and customers
• Design and run lab-scale chemical reactions
• Analyze intermediates and products using appropriate analytical techniques
• Critically evaluate results, identify and troubleshoot challenges, and plan experiments
• Review relevant literature to inform new synthesis approaches
• Collaborate on grants, patents, and white papers
• Engage directly with fashion and textile customers, sharing results and leading experimental work to build trust in our technology
• Represent MacroCycle at public or scientific conferences
• Report directly to our CTO and share findings with the broader team

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off: 3 weeks PTO (increasing to 4 weeks after year 1), plus 8 paid holidays and a paid company closure between Christmas and New Year's
• Premier medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Commuter stipend and annual BlueBikes membership
• Competitive and experience-guided compensation, including equity
• Retirement savings platform
• We encourage and protect time off: your well-being matters
• Regular team lunches and office snacks
• Access to networking events and innovation hubs in the Harvard/MIT area
• The chance to help shape a fast-growing MIT startup with real commercial traction

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree