Staff Scientist

Corning•City of Corning, NY

15d•$104,733 - $144,008

About The Position

Corning is seeking a creative, collaborative, and technically rigorous Materials and Devices Staff Scientist for its Devices and Systems Directorate within the Science and Technology organization. The role focuses on inventing and developing advanced materials and device technologies with a device-level integration mindset, translating fundamental materials innovations into high-performing, reliable, manufacturable device concepts and technologies that support future business opportunities. Research may span photovoltaics, superconductors, and materials with extreme mechanical and optical properties, with emphasis on device architecture, interfaces, processing, reliability, scalability, and commercial relevance. The Staff Scientist leads and contributes to research programs from early scientific concepts through demonstrations of device-relevant performance. The role requires developing and evaluating materials, material systems, interfaces, processing approaches, and device architectures; linking materials properties and processing to device outcomes; designing and interpreting experiments; and independently advancing complex projects. The scientist collaborates across technical disciplines, communicates results to a range of audiences, contributes to intellectual property, stays current with research and technology developments, provides technical guidance and mentorship, and supports technology transfer into development activities.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Strong scientific problem-solving ability, including experimental or modeling design, data analysis, technical judgment, and development of testable technical hypotheses.
Ability to relate materials, processing, and interfaces to device performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Record of meaningful technical contributions through publications, presentations, patents, invention disclosures, products, technical reports, or related achievements.
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts and results to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary research environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build productive working relationships across technical teams.
Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and evolving technical needs.
Intellectual curiosity, creativity, initiative, adaptability, and resilience in addressing challenging scientific problems.
Ability to clearly articulate the importance of a problem, the technical approach used, what was learned, and why the result matters.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and fabricating materials or devices for photovoltaics, superconductors, energy storage, or other advanced energy applications.
Experience with device integration, interface engineering, thin-film processing, microfabrication, or device testing.
Experience connecting materials development to device architecture, performance optimization, reliability, or manufacturing scale-up.
Familiarity with relevant electrical, optical, structural, chemical, thermal, mechanical, or environmental characterization methods.
Experience using computational modeling, simulation, or data-driven methods to guide materials or device development.
Experience leading multidisciplinary technical projects or influencing research direction across teams.
Industrial R&D, national laboratory, startup, or other application-oriented research experience.
Track record of invention disclosures, patents, technology-transfer activities, or other intellectual-property contributions.
Experience mentoring junior scientists, interns, technicians, or other technical staff.
Interest in developing materials and device technologies that support sustainability and a carbon-negative future.

Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to advanced energy materials and devices research from early-stage scientific concepts through demonstrations of device-relevant performance.
Develop and evaluate new materials, material systems, interfaces, processing approaches, and device architectures.
Connect fundamental materials properties, processing conditions, and interface behavior to device performance, reliability, manufacturability, and potential technology impact.
Design experiments, analyze and interpret results, develop technical hypotheses, and use data to guide subsequent research direction.
Identify technical opportunities and challenges, develop research plans, and drive complex projects toward meaningful milestones.
Collaborate with scientists and engineers across materials science, chemistry, physics, device engineering, modeling, and manufacturing.
Develop technical tools, methods, and concepts that support new technology development and help anticipate future technical challenges.
Communicate technical results, recommendations, and project progress to technical teams, leadership, customers, and cross-functional partners.
Contribute to intellectual property through invention disclosures, patent support, technical reports, and publications as appropriate.
Maintain awareness of relevant literature, technology trends, and external developments in advanced energy materials and devices.
Provide technical guidance, mentorship, troubleshooting support, and subject matter expertise to colleagues and project teams as needed.
Support technology transfer and transition of successful concepts into development activities.

Benefits

Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives.
100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions.
401(k) savings plan with matching contributions; combined retirement contributions can reach between 7% and 12% of pay depending on age and years of service.
Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Family building support.
Fitness benefits.
Company-paid life insurance.
Disability benefits.
Disease management programs.
Paid time off.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Recognition program to celebrate successes and reward exceptional contributions.