Material Characterization Scientist

Job Title: Material Characterization Scientist Job Description: Entegris is currently seeking a   Polymer   Characterization Scientist , CMP   Pad   to join our Materials Solutions Division R&D team. This position will be based at our Aurora (Greater Chicago Area) facility.    In this role, you will develop and advance fundamental understanding of the mechanical and rheological behavior of polymer systems used in CMP pad materials. You will lead the development of metrology capabilities and analytical frameworks that enable deep insight into structure–property relationships, supporting improved product design, consistency, and performance.    What   You’ll   Do   Metrology & Method Development:    Develop, optimize, and standardize mechanical testing methods   (e.g., DMA, stress–strain, creep, oscillatory rheology)   for CMP pad materials across development and manufacturing environments   Establish rheological characterization protocols (e.g., cure kinetics, viscoelastic behavior, frequency/temperature sweeps) to understand polymer network formation and processing sensitivity   Define and implement measurement best practices, calibration methods, and inter-lab correlation to ensure data consistency and reproducibility   Establish   Structure– P roperty– P erformance   Relationship:   Correlate mechanical and rheological properties to CMP performance metrics   Build property-performance models to enable material design targets and process control windows   Support root-cause investigations for yield, consistency, and customer performance issues using quantitative metrology data   Data &   M odeling :   Working with scientist s   and engineers in product design and production to d esign and execute DOE-based studies to isolate key variables affecting mechanical properties   Develop data analysis workflows and predictive models ;   Establish databases and visualization tools to enable data-driven decision making across teams   Cross-functional and   E xternal   C ollaboration :   Partner with formulation scientists, process engineers, and application teams to translate metrology insights into actionable   products   and process improvements   guidance   Work with manufacturing teams to transfer lab-scale metrology into production-relevant measurements   Collaborate with instrument vendors and external partners to evaluate and deploy new characterization capabilities   Communication &   T echnical   L eadership   Document and communicate findings through technical reports, standards, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders   Contribute to metrology strategy and roadmap, identifying gaps and future capability needs   Mentor team members on best practices in mechanical testing, rheology, and data interpretation   What   We   Seek   PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Scienc e   or related field required   3 + years of   post-graduate industry   experience in polymer   structural   characterization, mechanical testing   and   rheology ; Successful   develop ed   test methods, measurement systems, or analytical approaches   Hands-on experience with characterization techniques such as   thermal-mechanical testing , rhe ometer ,   tensile and fatigue testing ,   and compression and flexural testing   with demonstrated ability to design and troubleshoot experiments   Strong understanding of polymer mechanical and viscoelastic behavior, including structure–property relationships and the impact of network formation, crosslinking, and formulation on material performance   Practical experience   in Design of Experiments (DOE), data analysis, and problem solving   Experience with thermoset,   thermoplastic,   elastomeric, or filled polymer systems is preferred   Knowledge of CMP or semiconductor processes is a plus, but not required   Self-motivated, collaborative, and able to operate effectively in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment   Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical findings into practical recommendations   What We Offer:   At Entegris, we   invest in providing opportunity to our employees and promote from within. The new hire in this role will have the potential to grow and create relationships across the organization   and be recognized for demonstrated success and adherence to company PACE values.   Our total rewards package goes above and beyond just a paycheck. Whether you’re looking to build your career, improve your health, or protect your wealth, we offer generous benefits to help you achieve your goals.   Generous   401(K) plan with an impressive employer match    Excellent   health, dental and vision insurance packages to fit your needs    Flexible work schedule and 11 paid holidays a year   P aid time off (PTO)   policy that empowers   you   to take the time   you   need to recharge   Education assistance to support your learning journey   Values-driven culture   with colleagues that rally around People, Accountability, Creativity and Excellence.   Compensation: $114,000-$144,000, dependent on candidate skillset and experience. At Entegris we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants. Our policy is to recruit, hire, train, and reward employees for their individual abilities, achievements and experience without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, marital or military status.