Senior Materials Engineer

Lydian • Boston, MA

1d • $125,000 - $170,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Lydian is looking for a Senior Materials Engineer to advance the performance and processing of the materials at the heart of our reactor and module platforms. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Materials Design & Manufacturing, you will drive the continued development and refinement of our high-temperature ceramic and metal materials, including various joints, interfaces, and protective coatings. You will connect that work to real-world reactor performance and deepen the materials understanding that underpins our manufacturing scale-up and quality control. This is a hands-on, individual-contributor role for an engineer who pairs deep materials fundamentals with a strong sense of urgency. You will not only develop materials in the lab but also engage external vendors and technical partners, translating materials science theory into what suppliers can actually deliver and helping build a development-and-supply cycle that keeps pace with our design timelines. You will work alongside a small, high-caliber materials team as we advance our materials and processes toward commercial scale. This role is based onsite in Charlestown, MA and requires in-person collaboration five days per week, with up to 25% required travel to partners and suppliers.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Materials Science, or an equivalent degree
• 3+ years of industry experience working with materials aimed at industrial application in a manufacturing-focused environment
• Deep expertise in materials properties and performance for high-temperature applications
• Experience with and understanding of ceramic materials manufacturing and joining processes
• Industrial experience or exposure, ideally at a startup or fast-moving company
• Experience with advanced characterization methods such as SEM, Raman, and micro-CT
• Demonstrated ability to engage, evaluate, and collaborate with external partners, connecting materials science theory to what partners can realistically deliver
• An action-oriented personality with a strong sense of urgency, paired with the organization and communication skills to get things done

Nice To Haves

• Experience measuring electrical and mechanical properties of ceramic and metallic materials
• Experience translating material manufacturing processes from R&D to commercial scale

Responsibilities

• Own the continued selection and development of ceramic and metallic materials and components, driving improvements in electrical performance, strength, and consistency
• Develop joints and interfaces between various ceramics and metals, and mature the associated joining processes
• Advance protective coatings that safeguard materials under operating conditions
• Connect material properties to reactor-level performance, ensuring materials development stays aligned with mechanical design, operating modes, and core technical program priorities
• Lead durability assessments and root-cause analyses, and define the quality-control parameters and acceptance criteria that ensure consistent material performance
• Develop advanced characterization and measurement methods for the electrical and mechanical properties of ceramic and metallic materials
• Translate R&D materials and process developments into scale-up-ready engineering specifications and process controls
• Engage, evaluate, and manage external technical partners, anticipating design timelines, queuing vendors, managing lead times, and specifying material requirements to build a reliable, cyclical development and supply-chain system
• Serve as a cross-functional collaborator, interfacing with mechanical design, catalysis, testing, and process engineering teams

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Meaningful equity compensation
• Unlimited PTO and expectation that all employees take significant time off to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside work
• Excellent insurance with 100% of healthcare, vision, and dental premiums covered for the employee, and 80% coverage for dependents
• 401(k) with company match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior