Senior Materials Scientist Engineer - Organic & Polymer Chemistry
About The Position
The Materials Science Lab (MSL) in Longmont is a center of excellence for materials and chemical analysis and serves as a key resource for materials-related challenges supporting the Longmont Design Center. The team partners closely with Product Design Engineering, Head Disc Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality Engineering, and the global Materials Science community to investigate complex materials issues, provide analytical insight, and develop solutions that support product reliability and performance. The laboratory hosts a wide range of advanced analytical capabilities, including gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and surface analytical techniques. Team members are expected to combine strong scientific expertise with hands-on laboratory execution to solve real-world engineering problems. This position is intended for a scientist or engineer who enjoys hands-on laboratory work and taking ownership of analytical investigations from start to finish. Successful candidates will be comfortable working directly with samples and instrumentation, performing troubleshooting and maintenance activities, and translating analytical results into actionable engineering recommendations. You will take ownership of assigned work from sample receipt through data analysis and reporting, while partnering with senior technical staff, engineering teams, manufacturing partners, suppliers, and the global Materials Science community on more complex or ambiguous issues. You will contribute to analytical investigations that support product development, qualification, reliability studies, and engineering problem-solving. You will perform hands-on laboratory work including sample preparation, extraction, chromatography, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and data interpretation. You will maintain high standards for laboratory practices, including contamination control, cleanliness verification, and experimental quality. You will troubleshoot analytical instrumentation and perform routine maintenance and vendor-authorized repairs. You will collaborate with engineers, reliability teams, manufacturing partners, and suppliers to solve challenging materials-related problems. You will execute established analytical methods and laboratory procedures to generate high-quality, reliable data that supports engineering decisions, while identifying and communicating potential process or method improvements to senior technical staff for evaluation. You will communicate technical findings through written reports and presentations. You will contribute technical expertise that strengthens the capability and impact of the Longmont and global Materials Science Lab community.
Requirements
- A strong foundation in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials science, or a related discipline.
- Practical, hands-on laboratory skills and careful attention to detail.
- Sound scientific judgement when evaluating analytical data and troubleshooting test results.
- Curiosity and persistence when investigating complex or uncertain materials questions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to work independently on assigned tasks while contributing effectively within a collaborative global team.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
- A continuous-improvement mindset and willingness to learn new analytical methods, tools, and workflows.
- Prior experience in Industrial, commercial, or applied research in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials science, or related disciplines.
- Hands-on experience with analytical techniques used for characterization of organic materials, particularly experience with gas chromatography (GCMS) and related analytical techniques such as GC-MS including but not limited to Thermal Desorption, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, etc.
- Experience interpreting analytical data using ChemStation or equivalent, Wiley or NIST libraries or equivalent, and communicating technical findings.
- MS suite, JMP or related statistical software, and NIST libraries or equivalent
- Experience writing technical reports and presenting results to engineering or scientific audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute laboratory investigations.
- Bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field with 5+ years of related experience, or Master’s degree with 3+ years of related experience, or PhD without prior commercial experience, or equivalent education and experience.
Nice To Haves
- Experience characterizing polymers, additives, adhesives, lubricants, coatings, or other engineered organic materials.
- Experience with contamination analysis, failure analysis, product reliability investigations, or material qualification activities.
- Experience troubleshooting and maintaining laboratory instrumentation.
- Experience supporting analytical method development, method improvement, or procedure documentation.
- Knowledge of statistical analysis and data analysis tools.
- Interest in applying AI and digital tools to improve scientific workflows, documentation, or data interpretation.
Responsibilities
- Take ownership of assigned work from sample receipt through data analysis and reporting, while partnering with senior technical staff, engineering teams, manufacturing partners, suppliers, and the global Materials Science community on more complex or ambiguous issues
- Contribute to analytical investigations that support product development, qualification, reliability studies, and engineering problem-solving.
- Perform hands-on laboratory work including sample preparation, extraction, chromatography, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and data interpretation.
- Maintain high standards for laboratory practices, including contamination control, cleanliness verification, and experimental quality.
- Troubleshoot analytical instrumentation and perform routine maintenance and vendor-authorized repairs.
- Collaborate with engineers, reliability teams, manufacturing partners, and suppliers to solve challenging materials-related problems.
- Execute established analytical methods and laboratory procedures to generate high-quality, reliable data that supports engineering decisions, while identifying and communicating potential process or method improvements to senior technical staff for evaluation.
- Communicate technical findings through written reports and presentations.
- Contribute technical expertise that strengthens the capability and impact of the Longmont and global Materials Science Lab community.
Benefits
- eligibility to participate in discretionary bonus program
- medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- short- and long-term disability
- 401(k)
- employee stock purchase plan
- health savings account
- dependent care
- healthcare spending accounts
- paid time off
- 12 holidays
- flexible time off provided pursuant to Seagate policy
- a minimum of 48 hours of paid sick leave
- 16 weeks of paid parental leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
