Materials Scientist/Engineer (Ph.D.)

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients' most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.

Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you'll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team!

Key statistics:

950+ Consultants
• 640+ Ph.D.s
• 90+ Disciplines
• 30+ Offices globally

We are currently seeking a Materials Scientist/Engineer to join our Materials Science & Electrochemistry Practice in Menlo Park, CA. In this role, you will work as part of a team conducting scientific and engineering analyses to support Exponent's clients across a range of industries, including consumer electronics, medical devices, and utility infrastructure. Projects span failure analysis and root cause investigations, regulatory compliance support, product evaluations, and data-driven engineering assessments. You will have the opportunity to contribute to both laboratory-based and field-based investigations, as well as computational analysis. At Exponent, collaboration across disciplines is central to how we work. You will regularly interface with colleagues across various technical fields and are expected to actively build those internal relationships and seek out opportunities to contribute broadly across the practice and the firm.

• Materials characterization, failure analysis, and root cause investigations using techniques such as SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR, XPS, ARM, and mechanical testing methods, such as tensile testing, hardness testing, microindentation, and nanoindentation
• Supporting field inspections and field-based analytical testing, including use of portable and handheld instrumentation
• Designing and executing laboratory and field experiments, developing test protocols, and translating observations into actionable findings
• Applying computational and data analysis tools (R, Python, and/or MATLAB) to process, analyze, and synthesize complex engineering and materials datasets
• Preparing and presenting technical reports, data summaries, and client-ready deliverables that communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Proactively identifying opportunities to contribute to projects across Exponent's practice areas and building relationships with colleagues firmwide

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, with significant Materials Science coursework and research experience
• Hands-on experience with materials characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR, optical microscopy, mechanical testing) and the ability to integrate results across multiple methods to develop robust, defensible conclusions
• Working knowledge of mechanics and mechanical behavior of materials, including an understanding of stress, fracture, deformation, or related concepts
• Proficiency in at least one scientific computing language (R, Python, or MATLAB), with demonstrated experience applying computational methods to data analysis, data processing, or instrumentation workflows
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take ownership of tasks, and proactively seek out ways to contribute without requiring close direction
• Strong interpersonal skills and a genuinely collaborative, outgoing nature - you enjoy building relationships, asking questions, and finding ways to be useful across teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-specialist audiences
• The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, adaptable, and energized by variety - someone who thrives when working across multiple projects, industries, and technical domains simultaneously
• Presently legally authorized to work in the United States. No immigration sponsorship or processing required

Nice to Have

• Experience with portable or field-deployed analytical instrumentation (e.g., handheld XRF, LIBS, or similar)
• Familiarity with statistical methods for data quality evaluation, measurement uncertainty, or method comparability
• Experience with image processing, machine vision, or quantitative image analysis applied to materials data
• Experience with hands-on instrumentation for laboratory testing

Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) with publications (feel free to include publications that are in review or pending) [not restricted to 1 page].

To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:
https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent
https://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact

Attracting, inspiring, developing, and rewarding exceptional people with diverse backgrounds and expertise are central to our corporate culture. Our diverse team allows us to provide better value to our clients and enjoy an enriched work environment.

Our firm is committed to offering a variety of programs and resources to support health and well-being. We believe that providing competitive benefits as well as compensation and recognition programs empowers our staff to do work that makes a difference.

At Exponent, we have found that in-person interactions deepen employee engagement and are crucial for development, for realizing the full potential of our talented and diverse teams, and for building a more inclusive workplace where all have a sense of belonging. In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment. Our consultants engage in-person in the office unless they are traveling for client work or other business activities.

We value the rich lives our colleagues enjoy outside of work and understand that work/life balance is critical to our employees and their well-being. Consultants have the autonomy to balance their work and personal schedules so you can meet with clients, visit inspection sites, attend conferences, and make time for priorities outside of work, too. It is this flexible, agile work style and working hours that allow our teams to drive innovation and results in their own ways, while meeting the needs of clients. #LI-Onsite

Our consultants are rewarded for their technical and business contributions and have an opportunity to plan for future success and career growth. Exponent's total compensation plan is consistent with its expectations of the quality and quantity of work performed and with the professional standards set by Exponent. At the Associate and Senior Associate level, total compensation includes base salary, bi-weekly bonuses for high-intensity efforts, annual bonus and 401(k) employer contribution of 7% of base salary.

The base salary range for this position is dependent on experience and capabilities which will be assessed during the interview process.