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Scientist Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM (NOW HIRING)

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How much do scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for scientist in Rio Rancho, NM is $44.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.80 and $45.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a scientist do?

A Scientist is a professional who conducts research to increase knowledge in a specific field, such as biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental science. They design and perform experiments, analyze data, and publish their findings to advance understanding and solve real-world problems. Scientists may work in laboratories, universities, government agencies, or private industry. Their work often contributes to technological advancements, public health, and policy development.

What does a scientist do?

Scientists work in a remarkably diverse array of industries. Companies employ scientists to develop and improve products. Universities hire scientists to teach and do research in different disciplines; healthcare companies have a team of scientists working on medications, vaccines, and new treatments; and governments employ scientists to help with public projects. Scientists not only perform their specific job duties, but they contribute to the broader scientific community to increase knowledge of the physical world.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Scientist, you need a solid background in your scientific discipline, strong analytical skills, and typically at least a bachelor's or advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, data analysis software (such as MATLAB or R), and adherence to safety protocols are commonly required. Critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating and sharing findings. These skills ensure rigorous research, reliable results, and impactful contributions to scientific advancement.

What are some common challenges scientists face when working on multidisciplinary research teams?

Scientists often collaborate with experts from various fields, which can present challenges such as differing terminologies, research methodologies, and expectations. Navigating these differences requires strong communication skills, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from other disciplines. Successful multidisciplinary teamwork often leads to innovative solutions, but it also demands effective project management and regular coordination to ensure all team members are aligned toward shared goals.

What is the difference between Scientist vs Chemist?

AspectScientistChemist
Required CredentialsBachelor's, Master's, or PhD in science-related fieldsBachelor's, Master's, or PhD in chemistry or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, industry settingsLaboratories, manufacturing plants, research institutions
Industry UsageBroadly used across scientific research, academia, industryPrimarily in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, quality control

While both Scientists and Chemists work in research and laboratory settings, Scientists have a broader scope across various scientific fields, whereas Chemists specialize specifically in chemistry. Chemists often focus on chemical reactions, compounds, and materials, while Scientists may work in multiple disciplines such as biology, physics, or environmental science. The roles overlap in credentials and work environments, but their specific focus areas differ based on industry needs.

What jobs can you get with a scientist?

A scientist can work in various roles such as research scientist, laboratory technician, data analyst, or environmental consultant. These positions often require strong analytical skills, knowledge of scientific methods, and proficiency with tools like laboratory equipment or data analysis software.

What jobs do scientists have?

Scientists work in various fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and medicine. They conduct research, analyze data, and develop new theories or products, often working in laboratories, research institutions, or academic settings. Many scientists also collaborate with other professionals and require specialized skills and certifications depending on their area of expertise.
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Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Scientist job openings in Rio Rancho, NM as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,328 per year, or $44.9 per hour.

Lead Scientist

Roadrunner Venture Studio

Albuquerque, NM

$90K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

About Halo Materials

Halo Materials is a venture-backed advanced materials company pioneering novel technologies to produce domestic, cost-competitive graphite for advanced energy and manufacturing supply chains. Headquartered in New Mexico, home to world-class national laboratories and a fast-growing deep tech ecosystem, we are building a scalable, lower-emissions process to produce high-performance graphite critical to the batteries that power grid storage, EVs, AI datacenters, drones, and consumer electronics.

Our leadership team brings decades of experience building and scaling hard tech companies across energy, mobility, and advanced materials, with backgrounds at Tesla, Cruise, Pajarito Powder, and DOE-funded startups, including multiple ventures that have been successfully acquired. The founders care deeply about building technology that strengthens energy systems and domestic manufacturing, while cultivating a high-functioning, supportive team culture.

Backed by Roadrunner Venture Studios, Halo combines ambitious research and engineering with the operational support, capital access, and long-term vision needed to grow both the company and the people inside it.

About the Role

Halo Materials is seeking a Lead Scientist to work closely with the CTO to advance our technical priorities. This is a high-impact role ideal for someone who enjoys defining and executing upon a research plan, moves fluidly between modeling “what should be tested” and getting their hands dirty in the lab, and relishes the challenge of building an R&D-heavy company from the ground up.

You’ll own the experimental roadmap of Halo Materials as we progress from lab-scale testing to commercial-scale reactor design and systems integration. This will entail designing and leading experiments, setting up and troubleshooting equipment, managing lab technicians, and data analysis to feed into future experiments. 

This is a hands-on technical leadership position for someone who thrives in deep tech environments and can move seamlessly between lab bench execution, team leadership, and high-level technical strategy.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead installation, calibration, commissioning, and troubleshooting of core lab equipment to rapidly expand experimental capacity.

  • Design and execute rigorous design-of-experiments (DOE) programs to optimize graphite growth parameters such as temperature, feedstock composition, residence time, and process conditions.

  • Identify performance drivers, bottlenecks, and failure modes to continuously improve yield, purity, energy efficiency, and scalability.

  • Build scalable systems for experimental data collection, storage, and analysis to ensure high-quality, decision-ready insights.

  • Translate lab results into techno-economic inputs (e.g. cost per kg, energy intensity, throughput) to inform commercialization strategy.

  • Develop and document SOPs for safe, repeatable, and scalable lab operations.

  • Co-manage and mentor lab technicians to expand experimental capacity and execution speed.

  • Train and develop junior technical hires, building a culture of rigor, ownership, and continuous improvement.

  • Collaborate with external research partners to investigate underlying graphite growth mechanisms and unlock performance improvements.

  • Work closely with peer R&D scientists and executive leadership to align technical milestones with company strategy and commercial objectives.

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or closely related field

  • 8+ years of experience in rigorous research and development environments such as university labs, deep tech startups, or corporate research teams.

  • Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects—ideally involving lab environments, infrastructure, tech transfer, or industrial process scale-up.

  • Strong organizational, strategic, and analytical skills; comfortable toggling between tactical execution and high-level planning.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Demonstrated success working closely with C-level leaders and managing competing priorities.

  • Technical literacy in engineering, materials science, or chemical processes.

Nice to Have:

  • Experience in adjacent industries where similar high-temperature, catalytic, carbon, or materials growth processes are used — such as petrochemicals, advanced ceramics, specialty chemicals, battery materials, semiconductors, metallurgy, or industrial gas processing.

  • Experience with government grants, compliance reporting, or lab buildouts.

What We Look For (Beyond the Resume)

  • A track record of execution — how you design experiments, make decisions with imperfect data, and drive results matters as much as where you’ve worked.

  • Comfort operating in both research and production environments; experience in one or both is valuable, but your ability to move science toward application is what counts.

  • Ownership mentality with high accountability and curiosity.

  • Entrepreneurial speed balanced with technical discipline.

  • Grit, resilience, and an ability to turn ambiguity into actionable next steps.

Why Join Halo Materials?

  • Strengthen Energy & Supply Chains - Work on advanced materials that directly impact batteries, energy systems, and U.S. manufacturing resilience.

  • Scale Breakthrough Graphite Technology - Help scale a breakthrough graphite technology from lab experimentation to real commercial production.

  • Rigorous Science, Startup Velocity - Join a mission-driven team that values rigorous science, fast execution, and taking care of its people.

  • Technical Ownership & Autonomy - Take meaningful ownership in a technically ambitious environment where your contributions shape the direction of the company.

  • Competitive pay, full benefits, and equity - Competitive compensation, strong benefits, and the opportunity to grow quickly inside a serious deep tech venture backed by experienced builders.

  • Some of our Benefits:

    • An independent role with a supportive and flexible work environment

    • Time for self-development, research, training, conferences, or certification schemes

    • Full range of competitive benefits including a health care stipend and equity in a fast-growing startup