Sr. Analytical and Reliability Scientist

E Ink Corporation•Fremont, CA

1d•$120,000 - $162,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Analytical and Reliability Scientist will provide technical leadership to build and own the analytical and product-testing capability for a new Copper Clad Laminate (CCL) research and development program. This role owns chemical-analysis methods, coating-formulation development for representative test parts, test-part integration, product-specific baseline and reliability-assessment testing, failure analysis, and operation of the CCL test laboratory. The Scientist will establish critical-to-function requirements and provide objective, traceable data that connect incoming materials, formulations, processes, and integrated product structures with signal loss, physical performance, and reliability. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical science with practical formulation experience, rigorous method development, broad product-characterization capability, and disciplined laboratory management.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field; 5+ years of relevant industrial experience.
Experience integrating test parts and establishing critical-to-function requirements, electrical, mechanical, thermal, dimensional, adhesion, and environmental test methods across the incoming-material-to-final-product flow.
Broad working knowledge of analytical chemistry, surface and interface analysis, microscopy, structural characterization, and thermal analysis, with the judgment to select appropriate methods.
Understanding of structure-property-performance relationships and the ability to correlate analytical findings with signal loss, physical performance, degradation, and reliability.
Experience developing baseline and reliability-assessment test plans, including conditioning, stress exposure, comparative analysis, and failure-mode identification.
Hands-on experience developing coating formulations and representative test parts, together with developing and validating chemical-analysis or materials-characterization methods for polymers, composites, electronic materials, coatings, films, or related systems.
Strong knowledge of analytical method validation and measurement-system analysis, including calibration, standards, repeatability, reproducibility, uncertainty, sensitivity, and Gage R&R.
Proficiency in DOE, statistical analysis, data visualization, and development of test specifications, qualification criteria, and acceptance limits from complex datasets.
Ability to establish and manage a test laboratory, including equipment selection, commissioning, SOPs, EHS, training, maintenance, calibration, scheduling, sample traceability, and data integrity.
Demonstrated experience leading structured RCA and multidisciplinary failure investigations. Strong technical writing, project management, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with scientists, engineers, suppliers, external laboratories, customers, and business teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CCL, PCB materials, electronic materials, polymer composites, multilayer products, signal-loss testing, or adhesion testing is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead test-part integration by defining representative build configurations, interfaces, sample-preparation and assembly protocols, controls, traceability, and quality criteria. Create product-specific baseline and reliability-assessment test suites covering electrical, mechanical, thermal, dimensional, adhesion, and environmental performance.
Define and implement the chemical-analysis, coating-formulation, test-part integration, product-characterization, and reliability-testing strategy, capabilities, workflows, and capacity plan for the CCL program.
Establish chemical-analysis methods for incoming materials, process intermediates, finished samples, contaminants, and degradation products while protecting confidential formulation and process details.
Develop, validate, and maintain analytical test methods that correlate material composition, surfaces, interfaces, and structural changes with signal loss, physical performance, and reliability.
Establish critical-to-function material, formulation, process, interface, and product characteristics from incoming materials through intermediates, integrated test parts, and final product. Develop reliability test plans and comparative analyses that link these characteristics to signal loss, physical performance, degradation, and failure modes, and translate findings into requirements, specifications, and control strategies with the responsible technical owners.
Develop and optimize research-scale baseline coating formulations and preparation protocols used to produce representative, reproducible test parts; characterize formulation stability, application quality, composition control, and relevant structure-property relationships.
Own measurement-system quality, including method validation, calibration, reference standards, repeatability, reproducibility, uncertainty, sensitivity, robustness, and Gage R&R where applicable.
Lead cross-functional root cause analysis (RCA) and failure analysis for material, process, product, and reliability issues; define hypotheses, coordinate evidence generation, integrate analytical and process data, identify root causes, and verify corrective and preventive actions with the responsible technical owners.
Set up and manage the CCL test laboratory, including equipment selection and commissioning, SOPs, training, EHS, maintenance, calibration, scheduling, sample traceability, data integrity, and daily readiness.
Manage qualified external testing resources when internal capability is not justified, and translate validated results into test specifications, qualification criteria, and clear technical recommendations.