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Director Computational Materials Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ionis

Director, Computational Biology

Carlsbad, CA · On-site +1

... innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the ... DIRECTOR, COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY SUMMARY: We are seeking an exceptional computational biologist to ...

SES

Technical Product Manager

Woburn, MA · On-site +1

$200K - $225K/yr

This role requires deep literacy in computational materials science and AI4Science to coordinate strategy across our research, engineering, and materials teams. As the Technical Product Manager, you ...

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Director Computational Materials Science information

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$11K

$116.2K

$176.5K

How much do director computational materials science jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for director computational materials science in the United States is $116,237.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,500.00 and $151,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Computational Materials Science, and why are they important?

To excel as a Director of Computational Materials Science, you need advanced expertise in materials science, computational modeling, and a PhD or equivalent experience in a related discipline. Familiarity with simulation software (such as VASP or LAMMPS), high-performance computing systems, and relevant programming languages (like Python or Fortran) is typically required, along with a track record of published research. Exceptional leadership, project management, and interdisciplinary communication skills help drive innovation and guide diverse research teams. These abilities are crucial for successfully advancing materials discovery initiatives and achieving organizational research goals.

What is the difference between Director Computational Materials Science vs Computational Materials Scientist?

AspectDirector Computational Materials ScienceComputational Materials Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (Ph.D.), leadership experienceTypically Ph.D. or Master's in materials science, physics, or related fields
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, strategic planningConducts research, develops models, performs simulations
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, large corporations, R&D divisionsAcademic labs, industry R&D, tech companies
Search & Comparison IntentLeadership roles, strategic responsibilitiesTechnical expertise, hands-on research

The main difference is that the Director Computational Materials Science oversees research teams and strategic initiatives, while the Computational Materials Scientist focuses on conducting simulations and technical research. Both roles require strong technical credentials, but the director position emphasizes leadership and project management.

How does a Director of Computational Materials Science typically collaborate with experimental teams and other departments?

Directors of Computational Materials Science frequently work alongside experimental scientists, engineers, and product development teams to ensure computational models align with real-world results. They facilitate regular meetings to discuss findings, guide research priorities, and integrate computational predictions into experimental design. Strong communication and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential, as directors must translate complex simulation results into actionable insights for non-specialist stakeholders. This cross-functional teamwork drives innovation and accelerates the development of new materials.

What is a Director of Computational Materials Science?

A Director of Computational Materials Science is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing research and development efforts that use computational modeling and simulation to design and understand materials. They manage teams of scientists and engineers, set strategic research directions, and collaborate with other departments or external partners to drive innovation. This role often requires a strong background in materials science, physics, or chemistry, as well as expertise in computational methods and leadership experience. Directors in this field play a key role in advancing new materials for industries such as electronics, energy, and manufacturing.
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What cities are hiring for Director Computational Materials Science jobs? Cities with the most Director Computational Materials Science job openings:
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Director Computational Materials Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Computational Materials Science job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 2% Internship, 70% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 2% Summer. Highlights an 70% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,237 per year, or $55.9 per hour.
Automation Engineer, Materials Research Science

Automation Engineer, Materials Research Science

Meta

Redmond, WA

$184K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Meta rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 44 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

135th of 209 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.

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