How to hire a senior materials scientist

How to hire a senior materials scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior materials scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior materials scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior materials scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior materials scientist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a senior materials scientist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior materials scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior materials scientists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of senior materials scientists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Senior Materials Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Materials Scientist	Chemists and materials scientists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels and the ways in which the substances interact with one another. They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products and to test the quality of manufactured goods.	$31-75
   Scientist	A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations... Show more	$32-67
   Materials Scientist	A materials scientist is responsible for evaluating scientific properties, investigating chemical solutions and structures, and analyzing the components of natural materials. Materials scientists perform data analysis using scientific methods and operating different laboratory tools and equipment to develop entirely new scientific discoveries that would benefit various market industries for production... Show more	$28-57

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • R
   • Additive Manufacturing
   • DSC
   • FTIR
   • Product Development
   • Experimental Design
   • Test Methods
   • Material Properties
   • Development Projects
   • API
   • Materials Development
   • Technical Reports
   • SPC
   • QC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
   • Key activities include process chemistry development, synthesis of intermediates, compound purification and structure identification, and comprehensive scientific documentation.
   • Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.

   More senior materials scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior materials scientist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior materials scientist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior materials scientists' average salary in hawaii is 49% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior materials scientists 58% less than senior-level senior materials scientists.
   • Certifications. A senior materials scientist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior materials scientist's salary.

   Average senior materials scientist salary

   $102,039yearly

   $49.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior materials scientist salary

   $66,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average senior materials scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$116,808	$56
   2	California	$111,890	$54
   3	Indiana	$100,774	$48
   4	Illinois	$98,906	$48
   5	Ohio	$97,683	$47
   6	Pennsylvania	$96,011	$46
   7	Massachusetts	$94,692	$46
   8	New York	$94,233	$45
   9	Tennessee	$85,128	$41
   10	Wisconsin	$81,587	$39
   11	Florida	$80,868	$39
   12	Texas	$73,001	$35

   Average senior materials scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	ASML Holding	$124,335	$59.78
   2	Halliburton	$120,975	$58.16	6
   3	Entegris	$115,023	$55.30	7
   4	Maxwell Technologies	$111,499	$53.61
   5	Teva Pharmaceuticals	$111,403	$53.56
   6	Formlabs	$111,335	$53.53	7
   7	Boehringer Ingelheim	$111,220	$53.47	12
   8	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$110,318	$53.04	7
   9	Cymer	$108,586	$52.20
   10	E Ink	$108,182	$52.01	2
   11	Argonne National Laboratory	$107,506	$51.69	13
   12	Mars	$107,074	$51.48
   13	Object Management Group	$101,767	$48.93
   14	Bridgestone	$100,533	$48.33	3
   15	Goodyear	$100,116	$48.13
   16	Eurofins	$100,023	$48.09	65
   17	Align Technology	$99,969	$48.06	7
   18	ConvaTec	$99,450	$47.81
   19	Material ConneXion	$88,739	$42.66

4. Writing a senior materials scientist job description

   A good senior materials scientist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior materials scientist job description:

   Senior materials scientist job description example

   To reinvent an industry, you have to build the best team. Join Formlabs if you want to bring groundbreaking professional 3D printers to the desktop of every designer, engineer, researcher, and artist in the world.

   Formlabs offers an autonomous environment with massive opportunities for growth. Our Materials team is trusted with some of our highest impact projects and initiatives.

   We're a collaborative, diverse team that are experimenting and discovering new things every day. If you are a highly curious formulation expert looking to shape a rapidly growing industry, we want you as a Senior Materials Scientist.

   The Job:

   • Conduct research and develop world-class materials for 3D printing from initial lab explorations to validation and commercialization
   • Collaborate with hardware and software engineers to ensure new and existing materials print on our hardware seamlessly and reliably
   • Design and perform experiments, and use the results to inform and develop materials performance improvements
   • Partner with product management and engineering to continuously improve our materials

   You:

   • Minimum of 5 years industry experience in polymer development: resins, coatings, adhesives, elastomers, films, foams, rubbers, composites, thermoplastics, or thermosets
   • Solid understanding in polymer physics and polymer chemistry; expertise in formulating a wide range of high-performance materials: acrylate, urethane, epoxy, silicone, rubbers, or plastics
   • Experience in process optimization, research reporting, and commercial support; proven track record in commercializing new products
   • A creative and resourceful problem-solver, balancing speed and scientific rigor in a dynamic environment
   • Enjoy fostering communication and collaboration, mentoring junior scientists and creating best practices for the team
   • BS, MS or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Material Science or related field

   Our Perks:

   • Flexible vacation
   • Premium coverage for medical, dental, and vision plans
   • Paid parental leave
   • Commuter benefits
   • Unlimited 3D prints

   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

   Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.

   To all recruitment agencies: Formlabs does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Formlabs employees or any other company location. Formlabs is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered our property and will be processed accordingly.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior materials scientist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior materials scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit senior materials scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior materials scientist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior materials scientist

   Once you've found the senior materials scientist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new senior materials scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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