Materials Scientist

Job Summary

A Materials Scientist at Raven will lead the development, testing, and optimization of thermoset and ceramic composite materials used in our MAD 3D printing systems. This is a hands-on, foundational role for an experienced materials expert passionate about translating innovative formulations into real-world production processes.

Job Duties

• Develop and optimize thermoset and ceramic composite formulations for use in MAD 3D printing, including epoxy, phenolic, carbon-filled, aqueous ceramics, etc.
• Design and refine materials mixing protocols and equipment strategies to ensure batch consistency, processability, and printability.
• Lead testing and characterization of material properties, thermal stability, cure kinetics, mechanical, including rheology, and ablation performance.
• Support the scale-up of formulations from lab-scale to production-level batches with tight process controls.
• Interface with software and hardware engineers to ensure proper extrusion behavior, curing dynamics, and print reliability.
• Assist in establishing quality control systems for incoming materials, in-process inspection, and final part validation.
• Maintain documentation of formulations, experimental results, and processing parameters to support repeatability and audit readiness.
• Evaluate and qualify raw material vendors and identify new material inputs as needed.
• Contribute to intellectual property and technical strategy for Raven’s composite material stack.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or related field
• 4+ years of experience with composite materials, especially thermosets or ceramics
• Strong knowledge of formulation chemistry, particularly for filled resins and paste-like materials
• Hands-on experience with materials mixing, degassing, and rheological control
• Familiarity with techniques such as DSC, TGA, DMA, tensile testing, and microscopy
• Experience developing or scaling manufacturing processes for engineered materials
• Comfort working in cross-disciplinary teams with mechanical, software, and operations personnel

Preferred Experience

• PhD in Materials Science or related field
• Experience with ablative composites, ceramic-matrix composites, or carbon-carbon systems
• Familiarity with Direct Ink Write (DIW) or paste extrusion additive manufacturing
• Experience supporting aerospace or defense hardware programs
• Exposure to high-temperature materials, thermal protection systems, or propulsion insulation