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Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Entegris

Material Characterization Scientist

Aurora, IL · On-site

$114K - $144K/yr

Working with scientists and engineers in product design and production to design and execute DOE ... PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science or related field required * 3+ years of post-graduate ...

CRH

Graduate Intern - Strategy D&A

Atlanta, GA

$30 - $35/hr

We're a trusted and strategic partner to engineers, contractors, distributors, specifiers ... polymer concrete, and plastic infrastructure products. Our portfolio of brands includes Oldcastle ...

CRH

Graduate Intern - Strategy D&A

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$30 - $35/hr

We're a trusted and strategic partner to engineers, contractors, distributors, specifiers ... polymer concrete, and plastic infrastructure products. Our portfolio of brands includes Oldcastle ...

Entegris

Material Characterization Scientist

Aurora, IL

$114K - $144K/yr

Working with scientistsand engineers in product design and production to design and execute DOE ... PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Scienceor related field required * 3+ years ofpost-graduate ...

Entegris

Material Characterization Scientist

Aurora, IL · On-site

$114K - $144K/yr

Working with scientistsand engineers in product design and production to design and execute DOE ... PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Scienceor related field required * 3+ years ofpost-graduate ...

IDEX

Electrical Engineer

Rutherford, NJ · On-site

Whether you're an experienced professional, a recent college graduate or somewhere in between, IDEX ... Utilize 3D printing (metal and polymer) for prototyping and component development. e. Ensure proper ...

IDEX Corporation

Electrical Engineer

Rutherford, NJ · On-site

Whether you're an experienced professional, a recent college graduate or somewhere in between, IDEX ... Utilize 3D printing (metal and polymer) for prototyping and component development. e. Ensure proper ...

University of New Mexico

Post Doctoral Fellow

Albuquerque, NM · On-site

$47K - $64K/yr

... Interface Engineering: Design, functionalize, and characterize advanced polymer networks and ... Provide day-to-day guidance, experimental design support, and technical training to graduate and ...

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Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer information

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$50.5K

$89.3K

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How much do freelance graduate polymer engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance graduate polymer engineer in the United States is $89,329.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer vs Entry-Level Polymer Scientist?

AspectFreelance Graduate Polymer EngineerEntry-Level Polymer Scientist
CredentialsDegree in Polymer Engineering or related fieldDegree in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Polymer Science
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based, remote or on-siteLaboratory, research facilities, or industry settings
Employer & Industry UsageFreelance/contract roles in manufacturing, R&D, consultingFull-time positions in research labs, companies, academia

Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineers typically work independently on specific projects, often remotely, utilizing their engineering skills. Entry-Level Polymer Scientists usually work within organizations in laboratory or research environments. The main difference lies in the work setting and employment type, with freelancers offering flexible services and scientists working as part of a team in structured roles.

More about Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs are:
Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Graduate Polymer Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,329 per year, or $42.9 per hour.
Material Characterization Scientist

Material Characterization Scientist

Entegris

Aurora, IL • On-site

$114K - $144K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago

Entegris rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 41 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

86th of 535 rated manufacturers

Job description

Job Title:
Material Characterization Scientist
Job Description:
Entegris is currently seeking a Polymer Characterization Scientist, CMP Pad to join our Materials Solutions Division R&D team. This position will be based at our Aurora (Greater Chicago Area) facility.
In this role, you will develop and advance fundamental understanding of the mechanical and rheological behavior of polymer systems used in CMP pad materials. You will lead the development of metrology capabilities and analytical frameworks that enable deep insight into structure-property relationships, supporting improved product design, consistency, and performance.
What You'll Do
Metrology & Method Development:
  • Develop, optimize, and standardize mechanical testing methods (e.g., DMA, stress-strain, creep, oscillatory rheology) for CMP pad materials across development and manufacturing environments

  • Establish rheological characterization protocols (e.g., cure kinetics, viscoelastic behavior, frequency/temperature sweeps) to understand polymer network formation and processing sensitivity

  • Define and implement measurement best practices, calibration methods, and inter-lab correlation to ensure data consistency and reproducibility

Establish Structure-Property-Performance Relationship:
  • Correlate mechanical and rheological properties to CMP performance metrics

  • Build property-performance models to enable material design targets and process control windows

  • Support root-cause investigations for yield, consistency, and customer performance issues using quantitative metrology data

Data & Modeling:
  • Working with scientists and engineers in product design and production to design and execute DOE-based studies to isolate key variables affecting mechanical properties

  • Develop data analysis workflows and predictive models; Establish databases and visualization tools to enable data-driven decision making across teams

Cross-functional and External Collaboration:
  • Partner with formulation scientists, process engineers, and application teams to translate metrology insights into actionable products and process improvements guidance

  • Work with manufacturing teams to transfer lab-scale metrology into production-relevant measurements

  • Collaborate with instrument vendors and external partners to evaluate and deploy new characterization capabilities

Communication & Technical Leadership
  • Document and communicate findings through technical reports, standards, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders

  • Contribute to metrology strategy and roadmap, identifying gaps and future capability needs

  • Mentor team members on best practices in mechanical testing, rheology, and data interpretation

What We Seek
  • PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science or related field required

  • 3+ years of post-graduate industry experience in polymer structural characterization, mechanical testing and rheology; Successful developed test methods, measurement systems, or analytical approaches

  • Hands-on experience with characterization techniques such as thermal-mechanical testing, rheometer, tensile and fatigue testing, and compression and flexural testing with demonstrated ability to design and troubleshoot experiments

  • Strong understanding of polymer mechanical and viscoelastic behavior, including structure-property relationships and the impact of network formation, crosslinking, and formulation on material performance

  • Practical experience in Design of Experiments (DOE), data analysis, and problem solving

  • Experience with thermoset, thermoplastic, elastomeric, or filled polymer systems is preferred

  • Knowledge of CMP or semiconductor processes is a plus, but not required

  • Self-motivated, collaborative, and able to operate effectively in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment

  • Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical findings into practical recommendations

What We Offer:
At Entegris, we invest in providing opportunity to our employees and promote from within. The new hire in this role will have the potential to grow and create relationships across the organizationand be recognized for demonstrated success and adherence to company PACE values.
Our total rewards package goes above and beyond just a paycheck. Whether you're looking to build your career, improve your health, or protect your wealth, we offer generous benefits to help you achieve your goals.
  • Generous 401(K) plan with an impressive employer match

  • Excellent health, dental and vision insurance packages to fit your needs

  • Flexible work schedule and 11 paid holidays a year

  • Paid time off (PTO) policy that empowers you to take the time you need to recharge

  • Education assistance to support your learning journey

  • Values-driven culture with colleagues that rally around People, Accountability, Creativity and Excellence.

Compensation: $114,000-$144,000, dependent on candidate skillset and experience.
At Entegris we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants. Our policy is to recruit, hire, train, and reward employees for their individual abilities, achievements and experience without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital or military status.

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