Boston Materials is looking for a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to serve as the technical lead for commissioning our high-volume manufacturing line at a pivotal moment. We are rapidly scaling our Liquid Metal ZRT thermal interface material from bench-scale to high-volume production. You'll be embedded on the shop floor and own the manufacturing process end-to-end: commissioning the line, defining the process windows and controls, and building the production and quality systems that make aggressive ramp targets achievable. You'll partner closely with our equipment and process engineering teams to turn novel materials processes into controlled, repeatable manufacturing.
This is a senior, hands-on technical role, not a supervisory one. You'll set the technical standard for how we manufacture, and you'll still be the person who responds when production needs you. The ideal candidate has been here before. They have personally navigated the move from pre-pilot to production for a novel materials process, likely with a small team, and they have the judgment to know when to build a system and when to just solve the problem in front of them. You bring a rigorous, data-driven mindset and fluency with modern manufacturing execution and statistical tools. If you want your work to directly impact one of the most critical thermal management problems facing next-generation AI infrastructure, this is the place to do it.
Your Responsibilities
- Act as technical owner of the manufacturing process through commissioning of our high-volume line, from installation and IQ/OQ/PQ through full production readiness.
- Design manufacturing and material flows, including robust flows for conforming and non-conforming material.
- Establish line readiness: base state, preventive maintenance plans, SOPs, and validated process windows.
- Determine equipment parameters and specification limits for critical-to-quality characteristics, and design experiments to characterize process sensitivity.
- Translate developmental materials processes into controlled manufacturing while preserving process intent.
- Implement and configure MES, SCADA, and SPC tools for real-time monitoring and traceability.
- Lead non-conformance investigations and root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions to closure.
- Anticipate and eliminate execution risk and bottlenecks during an aggressive production ramp.
- Drive continuous improvement of production and quality management systems.
- Provide tactical engineering support to the active line, and mentor engineers and technicians on process control and problem-solving.
Your Required Skills and Expertise
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline (equivalent hands-on experience considered).
- Demonstrated, hands-on experience taking a materials-based process from development or pre-pilot into a controlled manufacturing environment.
- Proven ability to give tactical, day-to-day engineering support to an active manufacturing line.
- Ability to set equipment parameters and specification limits for critical-to-quality characteristics.
- Experience implementing and maintaining QA/QC systems from raw material to finished product.
- Experience developing and executing equipment qualification protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ).
- Strong process control fundamentals, including SPC, control charts, and capability analysis.
- Proficiency with manufacturing software, including Ignition/SCADA, Tulip/MES, and statistical tools such as Minitab or JMP.
- Comfortable working across engineering, operations, and quality in a fast-moving startup environment.
Your Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with specialty materials processing (e.g., liquid metals, composites, coatings, or advanced polymers).
- Lean manufacturing experience applied to reducing waste and cycle time.
- Six Sigma certification and experience with Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA).
- Prior experience in a startup or early-stage manufacturing environment.
Summary of Benefits
- Health, Vision & Dental – Boston Materials pays 75% of Health, Vision and Dental Care coverage for employee and dependents
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Holidays: 14 days/year
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent hands-on experience may be considered
- Hands-on experience taking a materials-based process from development or pre-pilot into controlled manufacturing
- Experience providing tactical, day-to-day engineering support to an active manufacturing line
- Ability to set equipment parameters and specification limits for critical-to-quality characteristics
- Experience implementing and maintaining QA/QC systems from raw material through finished product
- Experience developing and executing equipment qualification protocols, including IQ/OQ/PQ
- Strong process control fundamentals, including SPC, control charts, and capability analysis
- Proficiency with manufacturing software, including Ignition/SCADA, Tulip/MES, and statistical tools such as Minitab or JMP
- Ability to work across engineering, operations, and quality in a fast-moving startup environment
- Experience with specialty materials processing, such as liquid metals, composites, coatings, or advanced polymers
- Lean manufacturing experience applied to reducing waste and cycle time
- Six Sigma certification and experience with Measurement Systems Analysis
- Prior experience in a startup or early-stage manufacturing environment
What We Do
Boston Materials is a deep-tech company that develops and manufactures advanced energy-transfer composite materials using its patented Z-axis Fiber technology. These materials are designed to solve critical thermal management and structural challenges in high-performance industries, including semiconductors, aerospace, and electrified vehicles. By utilizing reclaimed carbon fiber, the company provides high-volume, lightweight, and durable solutions that improve energy efficiency and performance for industrial and consumer product manufacturers.
