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Research Scientist Materials Characterization Jobs

Nova Measuring Instruments

Drive advanced research in materials characterization, semiconductor metrology, and surface science , identifying emerging technologies with the potential to address future industry requirements.

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Nova Ltd.

Research Scientist

Fremont, CA · On-site

Drive advanced research in materials characterization, semiconductor metrology, and surface science , identifying emerging technologies with the potential to address future industry requirements.

Core4ce Careers

Materials Research Scientist

Dayton, OH · On-site

D. scientist to support an advanced materials research and development program spanning single-crystal growth, coating deposition, and solid-state materials characterization for defense and national ...

Socket.dev

Manager, Characterization

Las Vegas, NV · On-site

... research, technology development, process development, manufacturing scale-up, and production ... Provide technical leadership in analytical science, materials characterization, and ...

MP Materials Corp.

Manager, Characterization

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$16.25 - $19/hr

The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in materials characterization and analytical science ... R&D environments. This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in returning an essential ...

E Ink

Materials Characterization Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$175K - $225K/yr

The Fremont Research & Development team is thriving and growing as we help develop products that ... Working closely with senior scientists, you will help answer fundamental questions about material ...

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Research Scientist Materials Characterization information

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$50.5K

$130.1K

$174K

How much do research scientist materials characterization jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for research scientist materials characterization in the United States is $130,117.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What cities are hiring for Research Scientist Materials Characterization jobs?

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Infographic showing various Research Scientist Materials Characterization job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,117 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Research Scientist, Materials Characterization

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

Periodic Labs
See more jobs at Periodic Labsexternal

$225K - $325K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and perform high-fidelity measurements of materials' thermodynamic, transport, and spectroscopic properties.

  • Design and implement rapid property measurement schemes to scale up material characterization and support AI-guided discovery pipelines.

  • Collaborate with AI, automation, and materials science teams to develop autonomous systems and feedback loops for material discovery.

Job description

About Periodic Labs
We're an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what's scientifically possible.
About the Role
Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of materials research in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale. As a Research Scientist within the Periodic Labs experimental effort, you bring AI predictions into reality through physics and measurement science. In this role, you will both develop new material characterization approaches and be part of the team developing autonomous discovery loops.
This is a senior, hands-on role. You will own the design and execution of high-fidelity property measurements, drive the development of high-throughput characterization schemes, and collaborate closely with AI, automation, and materials science teams to build feedback loops that accelerate discovery. You will set the standard for measurement quality and data integrity across the lab.
What You'll Do
  • Develop and perform high-fidelity thermodynamic, transport, and spectroscopic measurements of materials, including electronic, magnetic, and thermal properties
  • Design and implement rapid property measurement schemes to scale up the material characterization process and feed AI-guided discovery pipelines
  • In collaboration with the AI team, implement automated data analysis and reasoning pipelines for screened materials; contribute to feedback loop design between measurement and prediction
  • In collaboration with the engineering team, develop autonomous systems for property characterization leveraging robotics and programmable instrumentation
  • Evaluate, procure, and commission new instrumentation; develop custom measurement setups where commercial solutions are insufficient
  • Define and enforce data standards, metadata schemas, and documentation practices to ensure measurement outputs are reproducible and reusable
  • Uphold and contribute to lab safety standards, particularly around cryogenic systems, high-field magnets, and hazardous materials

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
  • PhD in Physics, Materials Science, or related field, with 5+ years of hands-on experience in physical property characterization
  • Deep, demonstrated expertise in electronic and magnetic property measurements, including resistivity, Hall effect, magnetometry, and heat capacity
  • Strong background in cryogenic measurements and low-noise techniques, including lock-in methods, shielding/grounding, and precision instrumentation
  • Strong track record of highly impactful research demonstrated by publications in top-tier journals and/or inventions, and recognized leadership in the field
  • Proficiency with data analysis (e.g., Python/Jupyter, familiarity with instrument SDKs a plus) and disciplined data management practices
  • Excellent scientific writing, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and strong ownership of experiment quality
  • Ability to communicate measurement requirements and findings clearly to AI, engineering, and materials science collaborators

Especially Strong Candidates May Also Have
  • Experience with automation of physical property measurement platforms (e.g., PPMS, MPMS, custom rigs)
  • Experience with the computational prediction and experimental characterization design loop
  • Experience with spectroscopic characterization techniques such as ARPES, neutron scattering, or optical spectroscopy
  • Experience with lab buildout, instrument commissioning, and process safety
  • Experience handling and managing data at scale, including LIMS or similar data infrastructure
  • Previous work at national laboratories or large-scale user facilities

Mechanics
Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or similar experience
Employment type: Full-time, 12-month term
Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role
Compensation: $225,000-325,000 + equity
Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas.
We're building a team of the world's best - the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.

Apply