OVERVIEW

Unsmudgeable is hiring a part-time, in-person Materials Engineer to join our Product Development team in Wilmington, Delaware with the opportunity to grow into a full time position.

We are a materials startup building a next-generation anti-smudge coating for the optics industry. This is not an academic exercise or a theoretical research role. It is a hands-on, fast-paced product development opportunity where your work will directly shape the future of a commercial product.

As Unsmudgeable's Materials Engineer, you will:

-Design experiments to optimize coating performance

-Analyze efficacy data and identify process improvements

-Test coating on various substrates beyond eyewear

-Collaborate with customers on manufacturing needs

-Research new applications and business opportunities

-Produce LinkedIn content about your work experience

You will be responsible for translating lab research into scalable manufacturing processes, collaborating with contract manufacturers, and presenting technical findings to customers, partners, and investors. Your work will span material optimization, efficacy testing, manufacturing engineering, and product packaging — all tied to commercialization milestones.

We are looking for a candidate with a Bachelor's, Master’s or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nanotechnology, or a closely related field. You should have experience in wet lab experimentation or product-focused R&D. Experience with vacuum deposition techniques such as PVD or CVD is strongly preferred.

Other Qualities and Skills Required:

-Enjoys wet lab benchwork

-Comfortable presenting technical details to an audience (investors, clients, partners, etc.)

-A positive "can do" attitude!

-Passionate about documentation

-Independent, self starter with leadership skills

-Enjoys wearing eyewear

Equally important is your mindset. We value people who take initiative, learn by doing, and are comfortable with ambiguity. You must be able to distill complex technical concepts into clear, plain language. You should be confident working in dynamic, resource-constrained environments and able to move between experimentation, data analysis, and cross-functional execution.

This is not the right fit for candidates who prefer rigid structures, require constant oversight, or treat startups like miniature corporations. If your experience is limited to academic labs and advisor-led projects, or if you rely on literature before trying something yourself, this role will likely be a mismatch. We are building fast, learning constantly, and expect full ownership and accountability. We’d love to hear from you if you believe this could be a mutual fit.