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How much do materials characterization jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for materials characterization in the United States is $22.20, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $25.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are typical daily responsibilities for someone working in Materials Characterization?

Professionals in Materials Characterization spend much of their day preparing specimens, operating advanced analytical instruments, and interpreting the resulting data. They may also collaborate with engineers, researchers, or product teams to provide insights that inform material selection, quality control, or product development. Documentation of experimental methods and results, maintaining laboratory equipment, and adhering to safety protocols are key aspects of the role. Additionally, there is often an opportunity to contribute to technical reports, presentations, and cross-functional meetings, making teamwork and clear communication especially important.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Materials Characterization position, and why are they important?

To excel in Materials Characterization, candidates typically need a background in materials science, chemistry, or physics, along with experience in analytical techniques such as electron microscopy and spectroscopy. Familiarity with instruments like SEM, TEM, XRD, and mastery of data analysis software are essential, and certifications in laboratory safety are often preferred. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are important soft skills in this position. These competencies are critical for accurate material analysis, troubleshooting experimental issues, and presenting findings to interdisciplinary teams.

What is a Materials Characterization job?

A Materials Characterization job involves analyzing and evaluating the structure, composition, and properties of materials to understand their performance and potential applications. Professionals in this field use techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction to study materials at the atomic, microscopic, and macroscopic levels. They work in industries like aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals to ensure material quality and optimize product performance. This role often requires expertise in materials science, engineering, and analytical techniques.

More about Materials Characterization jobs
What cities are hiring for Materials Characterization jobs? Cities with the most Materials Characterization job openings:
What states have the most Materials Characterization jobs? States with the most job openings for Materials Characterization jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Materials Characterization jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Materials Characterization jobs are:
Materials Characterization jobs near you
Infographic showing various Materials Characterization job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 42% Full Time, and 58% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,181 per year, or $22.2 per hour.
Manager, Materials Characterization

Manager, Materials Characterization

Form Energy

Somerville, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Are you ready to build America's energy future? Form Energy is an American manufacturing and energy technology company. We're revolutionizing energy storage with cost-effective, multi-day technology designed to keep the electric grid secure and reliable, even during extended periods of stress. By strengthening the electric system and reimagining what's possible, we're giving clean energy a whole new form!
In recent years, Form Energy has earned a number of accolades, including being named by TIME as a "Best Invention", MIT Technology Review as a "Top Climate Tech Company To Watch", and Fast Company as "One of the Next Big Things In Tech". We are making rapid progress on our mission of delivering energy storage for a better world, and our team is growing just as rapidly to meet demand. We have signed contracts with leading electric utilities across the United States and production of our iron-air batteries is underway at our first high-volume manufacturing facility in West Virginia.
Working for Form Energy is more than just a job, it's a chance to be part of something extraordinary. And now - right as we significantly scale up battery manufacturing - might be the most exciting moment in the company's history to join. We are assembling a team of highly talented and driven individuals across the country. Driven by our core values of humanity, excellence, and creativity, our team is determined to deliver on our mission and transform the energy landscape for the better.
Feeling energized to make a meaningful impact on the world? Then keep reading - you've come to the right place.
Role Description
As the Manager, Materials Characterization, you will play a critical role in leading our internal analytical testing and method development function. Reporting directly into the Reliability Engineering organization, our team drives analytical excellence, failure analysis, and factory method transfers. You will lead a world-class laboratory team in deep partnership with Core Technology, Quality, Design, and Manufacturing teams to accelerate the validation of our breakthrough iron-air battery technology, ensuring global grid reliability and stability.
Relocation assistance is available.
What you'll do:
  • Provide strategic direction and empathetic people leadership to a diverse team from entry-level technicians to senior scientists, establishing clear performance expectations, shielding them from reactive triage, and cultivating a rigorous, high-throughput culture.
  • Oversee day-to-day lab workflows, sample lifecycle management, and instrument scheduling to achieve predictable turnaround times, optimize throughput, and maintain exceptional data quality.
  • Champion the creation of novel characterization methods for liquid and solid chemicals and materials, ensuring all methodologies are evaluated for precision-to-tolerance ratios before scaling or transferring to high-volume manufacturing lines.
  • Continuously evaluate evolving product development timelines to re-prioritize characterization requests, engaging proactively with design and process teams to fill analytical gaps and extract actionable insights for product performance and durability.
  • Manage the internal laboratory budget, balance routine operational expenditures, forecast resource needs, maintain strong relationships with external vendors, and execute clear ROI analyses on bringing new characterization instruments internal to Form.

What you'll bring:
  • 8+ years of experience in using and managing advanced material characterization instrumentation (i.e. SEM, FTIR, ICP, XRD)
  • 3+ years experience in directly leading diversely skilled analytical chemistry, materials science or failure analysis laboratory teams
  • Proven track record of deploying or managing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) or equivalent sample/workflow tracking system to optimize laboratory KPIs.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of industrial metrology concepts, gauge R&R studies, and verifying tool precision against engineering specs for high-volume manufacturing transfers.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills

#LI-Onsite
Humanity is a cornerstone of Form Energy's culture, and we make sure our compensation and benefits reflect that. Form Energy offers competitive salaries, stock options, and a holistic benefits package to ensure all employees have what they need to thrive while working here.
When it comes to you and your family's health, we cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees - and 80% of healthcare premiums for dependents. This starts from day one. We also offer at least 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents (up to 20 weeks for birthing parents), and generous vacation policies to give employees time to recharge when needed.
To build America's energy future, we need everyone at the table. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply to our open jobs.
If you may require reasonable accommodations to participate in our interview process, please contact accommodations@formenergy.com. Requests for accommodations will be treated with discretion.
Form Energy is committed to maintaining the privacy of our applicants. Please be aware that we will never solicit sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account details during the recruiting or hiring process.

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