Materials Engineer

About the role

In this Materials Engineer role at Nudge, you will own the end to end development of materials and fabrication processes that define how our ultrasound brain interface works. You will design the specific materials and fabrication methods required to build our in house ultrasound array components from the ground up. You will be responsible for designing high efficiency elements that enable transmission through the skull and high bandwidth elements critical for both ultrasound imaging and cavitation detection. You will develop rigorous methods for measuring the electrical, acoustic, and thermal properties of these elements to ensure performance and reliability. You will work in close collaboration with electrical, mechanical, software, and ultrasound engineers to align material choices with system level requirements. You will translate first principles physics and materials science into practical, manufacturable designs that advance our technology stack. You will own critical technical decisions that directly impact the performance, safety, and scalability of our non invasive brain stimulation and imaging platform.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define and execute a materials roadmap for ultrasound transducer arrays tailored to high resolution, high depth brain stimulation and imaging.
• Develop and optimize piezoelectric and supporting materials formulations to maximize transmission efficiency through the skull while preserving bandwidth for imaging.
• Design and prototype fabrication processes that enable precise control of element geometry, thickness, and doping for consistent acoustic performance.
• Establish measurement protocols for electrical, acoustic, and thermal properties of fabricated elements under simulated in use conditions.
• Characterize material aging and environmental responses to ensure long term stability and reliability of the ultrasound array.
• Partner with electrical engineers to model electroacoustic transduction and with mechanical engineers to manage thermal and mechanical stress in the array design.
• Integrate closely with software and ultrasound engineering teams to align material properties with system level image quality and stimulation targets.
• Apply multi physics acoustoelectric modeling to predict how material choices influence field propagation, cavitation, and image fidelity.
• Support the development of in house test fixtures and diagnostic tools to evaluate element performance throughout the product lifecycle.
• Document design rationales, test methods, and results to create a reusable knowledge base for future materials innovation.
• Lead root cause analysis for performance or reliability issues, driving corrective actions across fabrication and integration workflows.
• Champion best practices for materials selection, process control, and validation in alignment with regulatory and quality considerations.
• Collaborate with research partners to adapt state of the art materials findings into practical engineering solutions for our platform.
• Act as the technical interface for external suppliers and fabrication partners to ensure material specifications and delivery timelines are met.

Requirements

You must have at least 3 years of industry experience in a relevant engineering field, demonstrating a consistent track record of technical contribution. You should possess strong engineering and physics first principles, allowing you to reason deeply about material behavior and system interactions. Experience with multi physics acoustoelectric modeling is essential to evaluate how electrical and acoustic phenomena interact in our devices. You need a solid background in materials science with a focus on piezoelectrics and their performance in acoustic and electric fields. A degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline is required to ensure alignment with our technical foundations. A demonstrated history of exceptional technical contribution is necessary, shown through impactful projects, prototypes, or publications. You must operate with high integrity and strong professional judgement, making decisions that prioritize safety, accuracy, and long term reliability. The role requires comfort with ambiguity and the ability to drive progress in a fast paced, mission critical environment. You should be comfortable working across disciplines, communicating clearly with engineers in electrical, mechanical, software, and ultrasound domains.

Nice to have

Preferred experience in medical, neurotech, or ultrasound device development, where applicable.

Practical notes

This role is based in San Francisco and is offered as a full time engagement.