Synthetic Chemist - Develop the chemistry behind next-generation energetics manufacturing
Waltham, Massachusetts | On-site
Opportunity Summary
Join an early-stage defense technology company developing advanced chemical manufacturing systems for critical energetic materials. The company is combining chemistry, automation, and continuous processing to increase domestic production capacity for materials used across defense applications. As a Synthetic Chemist, you will own hands-on chemistry development at the front end of the technical pipeline. You will design and execute experiments, develop and optimize synthetic routes, investigate reaction mechanisms, and build the technical understanding required before chemistry moves into pilot-scale production. This is a highly experimental role centered on synthesis, reaction development, and problem solving at the bench. You will work closely with process development engineers and chemists to ensure laboratory discoveries can ultimately translate into safe, repeatable, and scalable manufacturing processes.
About Us
We are a venture-backed defense manufacturing startup developing modular, highly automated production systems for energetic materials. The team is building new approaches to chemical manufacturing that combine continuous processing, advanced chemistry, and automation to improve production speed, safety, consistency, and scalability.
Job Duties
- Design and execute laboratory experiments to develop and characterize chemical reactions
- Develop, evaluate, and optimize synthetic routes and reaction conditions
- Use structured experimental approaches, including DoE and parametric studies, to understand key reaction variables
- Investigate reaction mechanisms, impurities, failure modes, and competing chemical pathways
- Generate reliable experimental data that informs reaction design and future scale-up
- Develop and apply analytical methods to evaluate reaction performance and product characteristics
- Use tools such as NMR, HPLC, GC-MS, FTIR, and related techniques to support chemistry development
- Work closely with process development teams as chemistry transitions from flask and small-reactor experiments toward pilot-scale systems
- Evaluate thermal behavior, chemical stability, and process hazards throughout development
- Troubleshoot reactions, laboratory equipment, and experimental systems
- Identify opportunities to simplify chemistry, processing steps, and experimental workflows
- Clearly document results and communicate technical recommendations across chemistry and engineering teams
Qualifications
- Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, Catalysis, or a related field
- 5+ years of professional experience in synthetic chemistry, reaction development, or closely related experimental R&D
- Strong hands-on experience with benchtop chemical synthesis
- Experience designing and optimizing reactions rather than primarily executing established procedures
- Strong understanding of reaction chemistry, experimental design, and laboratory practices
- Working knowledge of analytical techniques such as NMR, HPLC, GC-MS, or FTIR
- Strong experimental troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- Ability to operate independently in a hands-on laboratory environment
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to work on-site and travel as needed
- Must meet applicable U.S. export-control requirements and be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance
Preferred Experience
- Continuous-flow chemistry or flow reactor development
- Reaction scale-up from benchtop experiments into larger laboratory or pilot systems
- Process chemistry or chemical process development
- Nitration chemistry or other highly exothermic reactions
- Experience working with energetic, hazardous, reactive, or toxic materials
- Analytical method development using HPLC, IC, NMR, ICP-OES/MS, DSC/TGA, or related techniques
- Experience within pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, fine chemicals, energetics, propellants, explosives, or other chemistry-intensive manufacturing environments
- Experience working closely with process development or chemical engineering teams to transition chemistry toward production
Why Join Us
- This role offers significant ownership over chemistry that is intended to move beyond laboratory research and into real-world production.
- You will work at the point where fundamental chemistry decisions are made, with direct visibility into how your experimental work influences process development, pilot-scale systems, and future manufacturing.
- The environment is hands-on and highly technical, with close collaboration across chemistry, process engineering, automation, and hardware development.
- Early-stage equity and competitive benefits.
Compensation Details
$150,000 - $200,000
#LI-AV