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Chemical Materials Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mariana Minerals

Materials Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

Conduct lab-scale and pilot scale wet chemical synthetic experiments to validate proof-of-concept ... MS degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, or Chemical Engineering (PhD ...

Westlake Corporation

Materials Engineer

Bristol, TN · On-site

Bachelor's degree from an ABET-accredited university in Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, or Plastics Engineering. * 3 to 5 years of hands-on plastics compounding experience, ideally in rigid or ...

Blue Bird

Materials Engineer

Macon, GA · On-site

Conduct mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing (e.g., tensile, hardness, microscopic ... Ensure all engineering materials comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS ...

AA Metals

Materials Engineer

Williamsport, PA

Materials Engineer Position Overview: The Materials Engineer is responsible for supporting the ... Perform and interpret materials testing (mechanical, chemical) * Maintain records of testing ...

AA Metals

Materials Engineer

Williamsport, PA · On-site

Materials Engineer Position Overview: The Materials Engineer is responsible for supporting the ... Perform and interpret materials testing (mechanical, chemical) * Maintain records of testing ...

Blue Bird

Materials Engineer

Macon, GA · On-site

Conduct mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing (e.g., tensile, hardness, microscopic ... Ensure all engineering materials comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS ...

AA Metals Inc

Materials Engineer

Williamsport, PA

Materials Engineer Position Overview: The Materials Engineer is responsible for supporting the ... Perform and interpret materials testing (mechanical, chemical) * Maintain records of testing ...

Chipton Ross

Materials Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$38/hr

Degree in Material Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Physics or related technical discipline * Intermediate-to-advanced written and verbal communication skills * Ability to communicate effectively with ...

Deceuninck Group

Materials Engineer

Monroe, OH · On-site

Bachelor's degree preferably in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or Chemistry. * Ability to read, analyze and interpret technical information. Ability to write reports and business ...

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All JobsChemical Materials Engineer Jobs

Chemical Materials Engineer information

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$40K

$87.5K

$140K

How much do chemical materials engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for chemical materials engineer in the United States is $87,487.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,500.00 and $106,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chemical materials engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chemical Materials Engineer, you need a solid background in chemistry, materials science, and engineering principles, usually backed by a bachelor's or master's degree in chemical, materials, or related engineering fields. Familiarity with analytical instruments, process simulation software, and laboratory safety protocols is typically required, along with certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) for advanced roles. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help engineers excel in this field. These competencies are crucial for developing innovative materials, ensuring product quality, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams in fast-evolving industries.

What are some common challenges chemical materials engineers face when developing new materials for industrial applications?

Chemical Materials Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing material performance with cost-effectiveness and scalability. Developing new materials requires rigorous testing to ensure they meet safety and regulatory standards, and engineers must often iterate designs based on feedback from manufacturing teams. Additionally, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams—such as R&D, production, and quality assurance—can present communication and coordination hurdles. Staying updated with the latest advancements in material science and adapting to rapidly evolving technology are also crucial aspects of the role.

What does a chemical materials engineer do?

Chemical Materials Engineers design, develop, and test materials used in a wide range of products, from electronics to medical devices. They combine principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to create materials with specific properties, such as strength, heat resistance, or conductivity. Their work often involves improving existing materials, inventing new ones, and finding efficient manufacturing processes. Chemical Materials Engineers also address environmental and safety concerns related to material use and disposal. They play a crucial role in advancing technology and sustainability across many industries.

What is the difference between Chemical Materials Engineer vs Chemical Process Engineer?

AspectChemical Materials EngineerChemical Process Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Chemical Engineering, certifications varyBachelor's or higher in Chemical Engineering, certifications vary
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing plants, material development facilitiesProduction plants, chemical plants, process design environments
Industry UsageMaterials development, research, and testingProcess design, optimization, and plant operations

Both roles require a background in chemical engineering and often similar certifications. Chemical Materials Engineers focus on developing and testing new materials, while Chemical Process Engineers optimize manufacturing processes. The roles may overlap in industries like manufacturing and research, but their primary focus differs: materials development versus process efficiency.

More about Chemical Materials Engineer jobs

What states have the most Chemical Materials Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Chemical Materials Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Chemical Materials Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Chemical Materials Engineer jobs are:

Chemical Materials Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chemical Materials Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Internship, 81% Full Time, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $87,487 per year, or $42.1 per hour.

Chemical / Materials Engineer - Space Solar

Starpath

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

Chemical / Materials Engineer - Space Solar
Position Details
Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Starlight Solar
Travel: Occasional
About Starpath
Starpath develops and manufactures the technologies that will enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. Today, we are building robotic systems that locally produce the essential commodities a lunar civilization will require at extreme scale: water, power, and oxygen. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars.
The Role
The Starlight team is focused on dramatically improving space solar power to support Starpath's core mission and the greater space economy. Starlight manufactures the lowest cost and highest performance space solar ever, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath's equipment on the Moon and Mars.
As a Chemical / Materials Engineer on the Starlight team, you will work alongside our senior chemists on the materials and chemistries behind our solar cells and encapsulation systems. You'll support development, characterization, and scale-up work across cell chemistry, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems - running experiments, building process workflows, and translating bench-scale chemistry into stable, reproducible manufacturing.
Responsibilities
  • Support development and optimization of chemistries and processes across cell materials, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems
  • Run experiments, characterize materials, and analyze data to inform chemistry and process decisions
  • Build and maintain lab workflows, sample tracking, and characterization pipelines that support fast iteration
  • Perform materials and device characterization using techniques such as XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, photoluminescence, IV, and stability/degradation testing
  • Partner with senior chemists on root-cause investigations connecting chemistry to device and encapsulation performance
  • Support scale-up of bench-level chemistry into stable, reproducible processes on the manufacturing line
  • Contribute to environmental stability strategies - moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, and radiation tolerance
  • Maintain lab safety, chemical inventory, and contamination control practices
  • Push back on unnecessary complexity - simplify chemistries, reduce process steps, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, applied physics, or a related discipline
  • 1+ years of hands-on experience with thin-film photovoltaic, optoelectronic, polymer, or related materials (internship and academic research applicable)
  • Working knowledge of materials characterization techniques and the ability to interpret chemical, thermal, and electrical data
  • Demonstrated ability to run experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions from bench work

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in a relevant discipline
  • Direct experience with thin-film PV, OLED, OPV, or related solution-processed optoelectronic materials
  • Hands-on experience with polymer chemistry - encapsulants, adhesives, barrier films, or bonded joints
  • Experience with solution-processed deposition methods (spin coating, blade coating, slot-die coating) or polymer curing and lamination
  • Proficiency with common characterization techniques - XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, AFM, photoluminescence, IV, EQE
  • Experience translating bench chemistry to larger-area or pilot-scale processes
  • Familiarity with glovebox operations, cleanroom protocols, and chemical safety
  • Experience using Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools for data analysis
  • Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments

Compensation & Benefits
  • Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
  • Competitive salary plus equity package; compensation scales with candidate experience
  • PTO & health/dental/vision coverage included

EAR REQUIREMENTS:
  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity
Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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