ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Computational Materials Dft Jobs (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsComputational Materials Dft Jobs

Computational Materials Dft information

See salary details

$11

$16

$27

How much do computational materials dft jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for computational materials dft in the United States is $16.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.22 and $17.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Computational Materials DFT researchers when collaborating with experimental teams?

Computational Materials DFT researchers often collaborate closely with experimental scientists to validate and interpret simulation results. A common challenge is effectively communicating complex theoretical concepts and computational limitations to non-specialists, which is crucial for aligning expectations and designing complementary experiments. Additionally, discrepancies between simulated and experimental data can arise due to idealized computational models or limitations in available material parameters, requiring proactive troubleshooting and iterative collaboration. Building strong interdisciplinary relationships and maintaining open channels of communication are key to overcoming these challenges.

What is the difference between Computational Materials Dft vs Computational Materials Scientist?

AspectComputational Materials DftComputational Materials Scientist
CredentialsTypically requires a PhD in materials science, physics, or chemistry with expertise in DFT methodsRequires a PhD or master's in similar fields with broader computational modeling skills
Work EnvironmentPrimarily research-focused, often in academia or R&D labs, using DFT softwareResearch and development across industries, applying various computational techniques including DFT
Industry UsageUsed for detailed electronic structure calculations of materialsApplied for material design, simulation, and analysis across multiple sectors

Computational Materials Dft specialists focus on electronic structure calculations using DFT, while Computational Materials Scientists have broader roles involving multiple computational methods for material research and development.

What are Computational Materials DFT jobs?

Computational Materials DFT jobs involve using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and related computational methods to study and predict the properties of materials at the atomic and molecular level. Scientists and engineers in these roles use computer simulations to understand material behavior, design new materials, and optimize existing ones for applications in fields such as electronics, energy, and nanotechnology. These jobs typically require strong backgrounds in materials science, physics, chemistry, and programming, as well as experience with specialized simulation software.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Computational Materials DFT (Density Functional Theory) Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Computational Materials DFT Scientist, you need a solid background in physics, chemistry, or materials science, with advanced knowledge of quantum mechanics and DFT principles, often supported by a graduate degree. Experience with computational tools like VASP, Quantum ESPRESSO, or CASTEP, as well as proficiency in programming languages such as Python or Fortran, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you interpret results and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. Mastery of these skills enables accurate simulations, insightful data analysis, and impactful contributions to materials research and development.
More about Computational Materials Dft jobs
What cities are hiring for Computational Materials Dft jobs? Cities with the most Computational Materials Dft job openings:
What states have the most Computational Materials Dft jobs? States with the most job openings for Computational Materials Dft jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Computational Materials Dft jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Computational Materials Dft jobs are:
Computational Materials Dft jobs near you
Infographic showing various Computational Materials Dft job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 34% Full Time, 47% Contract, and 19% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $34,865 per year, or $16.8 per hour.
Automation Engineer, Materials Research Science

Automation Engineer, Materials Research Science

Meta

Redmond, WA

$184K/yr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Meta rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 43 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

122nd of 188 rated software companies

Job description

Meta Reality Labs is seeking an engineer to advance materials research capabilities for next-generation wearables hardware. In this role, you will design, build, and operate the automation backbone of an autonomous materials discovery lab — connecting AI agents, robotic work-cells, and scientific instruments into a seamless, closed-loop pipeline. Working at the intersection of lab automation, agentive AI, and computational materials science, this role translates scientific workflows into production-grade software that compresses a discovery cycle from years into weeks, accelerating the development of novel materials for next-generation wearable devices and robotics.
Automation Engineer, Materials Research Science Responsibilities:
  • Define the long-term technical roadmap for laboratory automation systems, integrating robotic sample handling, automated metrology instruments, and data acquisition pipelines
  • Architect and own the end-to-end automation infrastructure for high-throughput materials characterization workflows, including optical, mechanical, and electrical property testing of wearable device materials
  • Collaborate with scientists, hardware engineers, and product teams to translate experiments and lab workflows into clear integration specifications, data models, and scalable automation solutions
  • Work with integrators and vendors to design, build, and commission automated workcells for materials R&D (process development, characterization, property testing, etc.)
  • Build and maintain middleware services that connect instruments, robots, and sensors to laboratory information management systems
  • Develop instrument drivers and automation scripts that generate command sequences and invoke vendor APIs/SDKs to orchestrate lab workflows end-to-end
  • Collaborate with AI and data scientists to tightly integrate the autonomous lab with LLM-based multi-agent systems for experiment planning, analysis, and decision-making
  • Design and implement data pipelines that capture, validate, and store experimental metadata to ensure data integrity and reproducibility across the discovery pipeline
  • Evaluate and benchmark automation performance — measuring throughput, reliability, error rates, and turnaround time of automated experimental workflows
  • Contribute to internal tooling, documentation, and best practices that enable the broader team to leverage automation capabilities
  • Drive the adoption of design-of-experiments methodologies and statistical process control within automated materials screening workflows
  • Define standards and best practices for automation system reliability, calibration, and data integrity across the materials research organization
  • Provide technical guidance to other engineers on automation architecture decisions, instrumentation integration patterns, and software design for laboratory systems
  • Evaluate and integrate emerging laboratory automation technologies, robotics platforms, and scientific instrumentation relevant to materials research

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Control Engineering, Materials Science, or relevant field, and/or equivalent practical experience
  • 6+ years of experience in lab automation, systems integration, or industrial automation software and/or relevant technical experience
  • Proficiency in Python, with experience writing production-quality automation and integration code
  • Hands-on experience with lab automation platforms (e.g., liquid handlers, robotic arms, automated characterization tools)
  • Experience with laboratory information management systems, electronic lab notebooks, or manufacturing execution systems
  • Demonstrated ability to translate scientific or manufacturing workflows into reliable, automated processes
  • Experience architecting scalable automation platforms for materials characterization or physical science research environments
  • Experience with statistical analysis and data pipeline design for high-throughput experimental datasets

Preferred Qualifications:
  • A track record of commissioning or bringing up complex lab, pilot, or manufacturing equipment
  • Familiarity with APIs, databases, and enterprise software integration patterns
  • Experience defining automation strategy and technical standards at an organizational level within a research or advanced hardware development environment
  • Familiarity with computational chemistry or materials science tools (DFT, MD, LAMMPS, ASE) and high-performance computing (HPC) environments
  • Experience with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge graphs, or scientific literature mining in the context of lab systems
  • Publications or demonstrated accomplishments recognized in the field of laboratory automation or materials informatics
  • Experience with materials relevant to wearables hardware, such as optical coatings, waveguide materials, display substrates, or flexible electronics
  • Experience integrating robotic platforms with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) or material databases
  • Experience integrating AI/ML models or LLM-based agent frameworks into physical lab workflows
  • Experience with data historians, or real-time supervisory dashboards
  • Knowledge of industrial communication protocols
  • Familiarity with design-of-experiments frameworks and machine learning approaches applied to accelerated materials discovery

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$184,000/year to $257,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

What Meta employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply