Senior Melt Polymer Scientist (AI)

Location: Cambridge, MA, USA

Expected base salary range: $128,000–$198,000 USD per year

Company

hirify.global develops AI systems and proprietary instruments for autonomous scientific discovery across materials, medicine, and energy.

What you will do

• Develop and optimize solid polymer formulations, including hot melt adhesive systems, using polymer extrusion and melt processing.
• Design and execute high-throughput experiments for melt rheology, polymer characterization, and mechanical performance.
• Conduct testing for molecular weight, thermal transitions, crystallinity, peel, shear, tack, tensile, lap shear, and bond strength.
• Build scalable characterization and processing workflows for autonomous closed-loop experimentation and machine learning datasets.
• Collaborate with experimentalists, systems engineers, and ML scientists to connect characterization data with formulation strategy.
• Troubleshoot instrumentation and workflows while maintaining laboratory records and safety compliance.

Requirements

• PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, plus 3+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience, or equivalent industry experience with an advanced degree.
• Hands-on expertise in melt polymer formulation, polymer extrusion, and melt processing equipment.
• Strong knowledge of melt rheology and experience with rheometers, melt flow indexers, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience with DSC, GPC/SEC, FTIR, and mechanical testing using relevant ASTM or industry standards.
• Ability to analyze quantitative data and interpret process-structure-property relationships in polymeric materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with cross-functional collaboration experience.

Nice to have

• Experience with multiple polymer chemistries and adhesive raw materials such as base polymers, tackifying resins, waxes, and stabilizer or additive packages.
• Pilot-scale or production-scale extrusion, coating, or hot melt application experience.
• Proficiency in Python or similar tools for data analysis and workflow automation.
• Experience with automated, high-throughput, or autonomous laboratory environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time U.S. employees receive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Benefits include flexible time off, company-wide holidays, paid parental leave, educational assistance, commuter benefits, and subsidized lunch.
• The organization operates with startup speed while applying AI and automation to scientific discovery.
• International employees receive regionally tailored benefits; USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions.