Principal Scientist

Principal Scientist

ID: 2025-2214

Location: US-CA-Menlo Park

Practice: Polymers and Chemistry

Position Type: Full-time

Posted Salary Range: USD $225,000.00 - USD $275,000.00 /Yr.

About Exponent

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

Our Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced consultant for a Principal Scientist position in our Polymers & Chemistry Practice. This position is open across all U.S. office locations. In this role you will lead in interdisciplinary project teams that investigate and solve complex problems related to the specification, development, testing, and end-use performance of polymeric materials used in life sciences, consumer products, building and construction applications, infrastructure systems, and automotive components. Candidates must also possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to convey scientific concepts in a credible manner to diverse audiences. This position requires some travel and will involve collaborating with scientists and engineers from other Exponent offices and practices. The successful candidate will have at least 10 years of scientific or engineering consulting experience with an established book of business. The ideal candidate will cultivate relationships with existing clients, identify new business opportunities, and contribute to the continued growth of the Polymers & Chemistry Practice.

You will be responsible for

• Leveraging deep knowledge in polymer science to address a wide range of complex challenges across diverse client sectors, delivering scientifically rigorous and impactful solutions.
• Identifying, pursuing, and securing new client engagements by understanding emerging needs and building long-term partnerships.
• Maintaining and growing trusted relationships with existing clients by consistently delivering high-quality work, anticipating future needs, and serving as a strategic advisor.
• Building, managing, and empowering multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and scientific integrity.
• Providing guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities to technical staff, supporting their growth into future leaders and experts.
• Ensuring successful project execution through effective planning, resource allocation, and budget management, while maintaining high standards of quality and timeliness.
• Offering high-level scientific and strategic advice to both internal stakeholders and external clients, contributing to the firm's thought leadership and client impact.
• Enhancing the firm's visibility and credibility by publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at industry conferences, leading seminars, and participating in expert advisory or technical committees.
• Inspecting, testing and analyzing various polymeric materials to assess their specifications and/or reliability in a variety of applications from a wide range of industries.
• Performing root cause investigations on failing or underperforming materials/components by scientifically examining the development, manufacturing or end-use environment of products specified for use in the construction, medical device, consumer electronics, and automotive industries.
• Analyzing information and conveying technical conclusions to individuals in engineering, business, law, and industry, as well as communicating testing rationale in the context of product development, product defect claims, and intellectual property dispute claims.

You will have the following skills and qualifications

• PhD in Polymer Science or Materials Science with a focus on polymer structure-property-end use performance relationships.
• Minimum of 10 years of consulting experience in the polymer science or materials science space.
• Proven track record of business generation and attracting new and repeat clients or funding.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make informed recommendations in your scientific field.
• Outstanding reputation among clients and the scientific community for integrity, responsiveness, and technical expertise.
• Adept people management abilities coupled with extensive experience in successfully overseeing and executing complex projects.
• Strong commitment to professional development.
• This is a revenue-generating role with substantial sales expectations. This position requires achieving annual sales in excess of $1 million. Candidates must demonstrate a proven track record of managing an active client portfolio that consistently generates at least $1 million in annual revenue within industrial sectors or law firms (excluding revenue derived from government funding for academic research projects).

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].

Life @ Exponent

To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:

We value and encourage diversity, equity and inclusion across all facets of our firm. Having a team built of people with different backgrounds, skills and perspectives 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.

Work Environment

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.

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

Compensation

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 Manager level and above, total compensation includes base salary, annual bonus, and 401(k) employer contribution of 7% of base salary.

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

Salary Range

USD $225,000.00 - USD $275,000.00 /Yr.

Benefits you will enjoy

Access benefits information on our View email address on click.appcast.io page:

Exponent is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may email us at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Job Locations

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