Aether
Research Associate, Materials Development
Aether, Menlo Park, California, United States, 94029
Research Associate, Materials Development
Aether is looking for a hands‑on Research Associate to join our Materials Development team. You will play a central role in how our materials are printed, tested, and understood – operating our fleet of 3D printers, running mechanical and thermal characterization, and generating high‑quality data that drives product development and customer success.
Base Pay Range $80,000.00/yr – $100,000.00/yr
What You’ll Do 3D Printing & Lab Operations (Core Focus)
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot our fleet of prosumer and professional 3D printers (currently includes Bambu Labs, Prusa, Intamsys, Ultimaker, and more)
Execute printing workflows for internal formulations, including part setup, print file preparation, and post‑processing
Help develop and refine print profiles, slicing strategies, and optimization methods
Over time become an expert‑level user of our equipment and take ownership of printer performance and reliability
Materials Testing & Characterization
Perform mechanical testing (tensile, impact, flexural) and thermal characterization (glass transition, HDT, CTE)
Support expanded testing capabilities including creep, static load, sub‑ambient testing, and rheology
Assist in method development and refinement to improve how we measure and better explain in‑field material behavior
Data, Documentation & Collaboration
Record and organize experimental results with high attention to detail
Generate basic data interpretations; familiarity with JMP or interest in learning it is a plus
Work with the team to integrate testing workflows into Uncountable for automated data capture
Instrument Ownership
Become the day‑to‑day owner for key instruments, including routine maintenance
Help ensure equipment uptime and calibration reliability as our lab grows
Growth Opportunities
Contribute to development of new testing and printing methods as R&D capabilities expand
Gain exposure to extrusion processing
Opportunity to support application development as the team scales
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field
0‑2 (up to ~4) years of hands‑on experience with 3D printing, mechanical testing, or lab‑based materials work
Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort with tools, equipment, and iterative troubleshooting
Highly organized, reliable, and motivated by executing workflows with precision
Curious, collaborative, and eager to grow from a generalist into a specialist
Nice‑to‑Haves
Experience with filament extrusion or polymer processing beyond 3D printing
Experience optimizing print files, slicing parameters, or printer profiles
Comfort with CAD software (not required)
Experience with rheological or thermal characterization techniques
Note Aether Biomachines is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. The pay range for this role is $80,000 – $100,000 per year + equity, with final compensation based on skills and experience. Employment at Aether is at‑will, and reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. At this time, Aether is not sponsoring visas for this position.
Seniority Level
Associate
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
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Base Pay Range $80,000.00/yr – $100,000.00/yr
What You’ll Do 3D Printing & Lab Operations (Core Focus)
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot our fleet of prosumer and professional 3D printers (currently includes Bambu Labs, Prusa, Intamsys, Ultimaker, and more)
Execute printing workflows for internal formulations, including part setup, print file preparation, and post‑processing
Help develop and refine print profiles, slicing strategies, and optimization methods
Over time become an expert‑level user of our equipment and take ownership of printer performance and reliability
Materials Testing & Characterization
Perform mechanical testing (tensile, impact, flexural) and thermal characterization (glass transition, HDT, CTE)
Support expanded testing capabilities including creep, static load, sub‑ambient testing, and rheology
Assist in method development and refinement to improve how we measure and better explain in‑field material behavior
Data, Documentation & Collaboration
Record and organize experimental results with high attention to detail
Generate basic data interpretations; familiarity with JMP or interest in learning it is a plus
Work with the team to integrate testing workflows into Uncountable for automated data capture
Instrument Ownership
Become the day‑to‑day owner for key instruments, including routine maintenance
Help ensure equipment uptime and calibration reliability as our lab grows
Growth Opportunities
Contribute to development of new testing and printing methods as R&D capabilities expand
Gain exposure to extrusion processing
Opportunity to support application development as the team scales
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field
0‑2 (up to ~4) years of hands‑on experience with 3D printing, mechanical testing, or lab‑based materials work
Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort with tools, equipment, and iterative troubleshooting
Highly organized, reliable, and motivated by executing workflows with precision
Curious, collaborative, and eager to grow from a generalist into a specialist
Nice‑to‑Haves
Experience with filament extrusion or polymer processing beyond 3D printing
Experience optimizing print files, slicing parameters, or printer profiles
Comfort with CAD software (not required)
Experience with rheological or thermal characterization techniques
Note Aether Biomachines is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. The pay range for this role is $80,000 – $100,000 per year + equity, with final compensation based on skills and experience. Employment at Aether is at‑will, and reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. At this time, Aether is not sponsoring visas for this position.
Seniority Level
Associate
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
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