Materials Scientist/Engineer (Ph.D.)
About Exponent
Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges. Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.
Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning.
Our Opportunity
We are currently seeking a Materials Scientist/Engineer to join our Materials Science & Electrochemistry Practice in Menlo Park, CA. In this role, you will work as part of a team conducting scientific and engineering analyses to support Exponent's clients across a range of industries, including consumer electronics, medical devices, and utility infrastructure. Projects span failure analysis and root cause investigations, regulatory compliance support, product evaluations, and data-driven engineering assessments. You will have the opportunity to contribute to both laboratory-based and field-based investigations, as well as computational analysis.
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Conduct scientific and engineering analyses
- Support Exponent's clients across a range of industries
- Contribute to both laboratory-based and field-based investigations
- Execute laboratory and field experiments
- Translate observations into actionable findings
- Apply computational and data analysis tools to process, analyze, and synthesize complex engineering and materials datasets
- Prepare and present technical reports, data summaries, and client-ready deliverables
- Proactively identify opportunities to contribute to projects across Exponent's practice areas
- Build relationships with colleagues firmwide
Key Skills and Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, with significant Materials Science coursework and research experience
- Hands-on experience with materials characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR, optical microscopy, mechanical testing)
- Working knowledge of mechanics and mechanical behavior of materials, including an understanding of stress, fracture, deformation, or related concepts
- Proficiency in at least one scientific computing language (R, Python, or MATLAB), with demonstrated experience applying computational methods to data analysis, data processing, or instrumentation workflows
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, take ownership of tasks, and proactively seek out ways to contribute without requiring close direction
- Strong interpersonal skills and a genuinely collaborative, outgoing nature - you enjoy building relationships, asking questions, and finding ways to be useful across teams
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-specialist audiences
Nice to Have
- Experience with portable or field-deployed analytical instrumentation (e.g., handheld XRF, LIBS, or similar)
- Familiarity with statistical methods for data quality evaluation, measurement uncertainty, or method comparability
- Experience with image processing, machine vision, or quantitative image analysis applied to materials data
- Experience with hands-on instrumentation for laboratory testing
What You Will Be Doing
- Materials characterization, failure analysis, and root cause investigations using techniques such as SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR, XPS, ARM, and mechanical testing methods, such as tensile testing, hardness testing, microindentation, and nanoindentation
- Supporting field inspections and field-based analytical testing, including use of portable and handheld instrumentation
- Designing and executing laboratory and field experiments, developing test protocols, and translating observations into actionable findings
- Applying computational and data analysis tools (R, Python, and/or MATLAB) to process, analyze, and synthesize complex engineering and materials datasets
- Preparing and presenting technical reports, data summaries, and client-ready deliverables that communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
Life @ Exponent
To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:
- https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent
- https://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact
Attracting, inspiring, developing, and rewarding exceptional people with diverse backgrounds and expertise are central to our corporate culture. Our diverse team allows us to provide better value to our clients and enjoy an enriched work environment. Our firm is committed to offering a variety of programs and resources to support health and well-being. We believe that providing competitive benefits as well as compensation and recognition programs empowers our staff to do work that makes a difference.
Work Environment
In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment. Our consultants engage in-person in the office unless they are traveling for client work or other business activities. We value the rich lives our colleagues enjoy outside of work and understand that work/life balance is critical to our employees and their well-being. Consultants have the autonomy to balance their work and personal schedules so you can meet with clients, visit inspection sites, attend conferences, and make time for priorities outside of work, too.
Career Growth
At Exponent, we reward our consultants for their technical and business contributions and offer opportunities for planning for future success and career growth. Exponent's total compensation plan is consistent with its expectations of the quality and quantity of work performed and with the professional standards set by Exponent. At the Associate and Senior Associate level, total compensation includes base salary, bi-weekly bonuses for high-intensity efforts, annual bonus and 401(k) employer contribution of 7% of base salary. The base salary range for this position is dependent on experience and capabilities which will be assessed during the interview process.
Benefits
You will enjoy access to the following benefits:
- https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent
- https://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact
Exponent is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may email us at HR-Accommodations@exponent.com.