Research Engineer

About the role

Our research team in Billerica, Massachusetts is at the forefront of innovation. We are seeking a hands-on Research Engineer/Chemist in Pigment research to help develop the advanced pigment materials that are fundamental to the performance of our color electrophoretic displays. This role offers the opportunity to work across the full development cycle—from pigment crystallization and finishing through to evaluating pigment performance within electrophoretic display systems—directly contributing to the next generation of E Ink technology.

This position is ideally suited to a practical, laboratory-focused chemist or engineer who enjoys experimental work, developing robust laboratory procedures, operating specialist equipment, solving technical challenges, and translating experimental observations into improved material performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and optimize laboratory procedures for pigment crystallization, crystal engineering, finishing, and post-processing.
• Investigate and optimize crystallization conditions to control crystal form, crystal habit, particle morphology, and particle size distribution.
• Plan and perform laboratory experiments under the guidance of project scientists.
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and take ownership of laboratory pigment finishing equipment, including mills, filtration systems, washing equipment, dryers, and associated processing equipment.
• Develop and optimize milling, filtration, purification, washing, and drying procedures to achieve target particle size, morphology, purity, and process consistency.
• Characterize pigments using particle size analysis, microscopy, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and other analytical techniques.
• Identify impurities and correlate analytical results with pigment properties, crystallization behavior, and processing conditions.
• Record, analyze, and interpret experimental data to improve laboratory procedures and pigment performance.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, experimental records, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained in good working order and that all work is carried out safely and in accordance with environmental, health, safety, and quality requirements.
• Prepare and screen newly developed pigments in electrophoretic display formulations.
• Evaluate pigment performance within the internal phase of electrophoretic display devices.
• Correlate pigment chemistry, crystal structure, particle morphology, particle size distribution, surface properties, and purity with electro-optical performance.
• Use characterization and device performance data to recommend improvements to crystallization, pigment finishing, and processing procedures.
• Collaborate closely with formulation scientists, materials scientists, and device engineers to support the development of next-generation electrophoretic display materials.
• Prepare clear technical reports and present experimental findings and recommendations to project teams.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline, together with a minimum of two years' industrial experience in pigment development, crystallization, crystal engineering, pigment finishing, particle engineering, or the development of functional materials; or a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline with a minimum of two years' post-Ph.D. industrial experience in one or more of these areas.
• A practical, laboratory-focused chemist with a passion for hands-on experimental research and process development.
• Demonstrated experience developing, executing, and optimizing experimental procedures to solve technical problems and improve material performance.
• Practical experience with crystallization, crystal engineering, pigment finishing, milling, filtration, purification, and drying processes.
• Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory-scale processing equipment.
• Experience with particle characterization techniques, including laser diffraction, centrifugal particle sedimentation (CPS), BET surface area analysis, optical microscopy, SEM, and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
• Experience interpreting analytical data from ICP-OES, ICP-MS, chromatography (IC), and related analytical techniques to identify and quantify inorganic and organic impurities.
• Strong problem-solving, data analysis, and technical reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently in the laboratory while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary R&D team.

Skills

• Strong understanding of organic pigment and dye chemistry (desirable).