Staff Materials Research Scientist, PFAS Alternative Discovery

About the role

SandboxAQ is seeking a scientist to bridge the gap between AI-driven chemical discovery and real-world semiconductor manufacturing. You will manage the technical relationship with external partners to develop and validate PFAS-free materials for complex industrial processes. This role requires applying deep domain expertise to ensure our generative models produce viable, high-performance chemical solutions. You will translate the stringent requirements of semiconductor fabrication into actionable discovery criteria that guide our computational platforms. The position demands fluency in both the language of industrial chemistry and the capabilities of modern AI tools. You will operate at the intersection of molecular design and manufacturing validation to de-risk novel chemistries. Success in this role will directly enable the deployment of safer, sustainable materials within advanced chip production environments.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Act as the primary technical contact for external co-development partners, including chemical suppliers and semiconductor equipment manufacturers.
• Translate industrial requirements and manufacturing constraints into specific target specifications for our discovery pipeline.
• Operate generative chemistry workflows to generate, evaluate, and rank candidate molecules for semiconductor use cases.
• Validate lead compounds against performance, environmental, and safety standards required for fab environments.
• Translate experimental validation data into actionable technical improvements for internal machine learning and computational chemistry teams.
• Align internal property screening and modeling objectives with partner qualification criteria.
• Design and execute iterative loops between computational predictions and partner feedback to accelerate material maturation.
• Interpret complex datasets from physical testing to refine the underlying predictive models used for candidate selection.
• Champion the integration of PFAS-lean design principles across the full molecule generation and screening lifecycle.
• Represent Sandboxaq in collaborative projects, ensuring technical milestones are met with rigorous quality standards.
• Evaluate the scalability and process compatibility of candidates within realistic manufacturing scenarios.
• Document technical rationales and decision pathways to ensure transparency and reproducibility for partner reviews.

Requirements

• PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years of post-PhD experience in industrial R&D focused on formulating or qualifying semiconductor process chemicals.
• Hands-on experience evaluating PFAS-lean or PFAS-free alternatives for applications such as lithography, wet-etch, cleaning, or thermal management.
• Deep understanding of semiconductor unit processes and the EHS specifications governing material qualification.
• Proficiency in Python for configuring computational workflows and interpreting model outputs.
• Experience collaborating with machine learning or physics-based simulation teams.
• Proven ability to lead application-driven projects with external industrial partners.
• Authorization to work in the United States and unrestricted eligibility to access export-controlled technologies.
• Willingness to adhere to strict data handling protocols and confidentiality agreements with partner organizations.
• Commitment to maintaining current knowledge of regulatory landscapes impacting semiconductor materials.
• Capacity to manage multiple technical workstreams while maintaining precise attention to detail.
• Dedication to upholding the highest standards of safety, quality, and environmental responsibility.

Nice to have

• Direct experience with PFAS phase-out or fluorine-free reformulation in a specialty chemicals or fab setting.
• Experience establishing reliability criteria or qualification protocols with OEMs or chemical suppliers.
• Track record of patents or publications in fluorochemistry or semiconductor materials.
• Experience working within federally funded R&D programs, such as those related to the CHIPS Act.

Practical notes

• Compensation includes base salary, equity, and performance incentives.
• Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, and parental leave.
• The role offers exposure to CHIPS Act-funded programs and senior leadership.
• The position is based in the United States and operates remotely.
• Travel may be required to meet with partners or visit manufacturing sites as project needs dictate.
• No specific visa sponsorship details are provided in this posting.
• Applicants must meet the outlined requirements without exception to be considered for the role.