Materials Engineer I - R&D and Process Development

Location: Belmont, North Carolina, Charlotte Area
Employment Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Entry Level
Work Arrangement: On-Site

About LTS Research Laboratories

LTS Research Laboratories, Inc. is a materials technology company specializing in high-purity materials, advanced inorganic materials, rare-earth materials, sputtering targets, evaporation materials, and custom materials for research and industrial applications.

We are seeking an Entry-Level Materials Engineer who is interested in hands-on research, materials processing, chemical development, powder metallurgy, and advanced materials characterization.

This is a laboratory and manufacturing-focused position. The successful candidate will work directly with new materials, experimental processes, analytical instruments, and production equipment rather than working exclusively at a desk.

Position Summary

The Materials Engineer will support research and development of new chemical compounds and advanced materials and assist in developing processes to convert raw materials and powders into finished products.

The position will involve materials including metals, alloys, ceramics, inorganic compounds, rare-earth compounds, organometallic materials, and selected specialty chemicals.

A major focus of the position will be developing and optimizing processes for manufacturing sputtering targets, pellets, powders, granules, and other advanced material forms .

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct R&D on new inorganic, rare-earth, organometallic, and specialty chemical materials.
• Develop and optimize synthesis, purification, heat-treatment, and materials-processing procedures.
• Develop processes for manufacturing sputtering targets from powders, including powder preparation, blending, particle-size control, pressing, sintering, heat treatment, density evaluation, grinding, and finishing.
• Operate laboratory and production-scale powder presses and assist with development of pressing parameters for pellets and sputtering targets.
• Investigate the relationship between powder characteristics, pressing conditions, sintering parameters, density, microstructure, and final material performance.
• Prepare experimental batches and scale successful laboratory processes toward production.
• Characterize raw materials, intermediate materials, and finished products using techniques including:
  • X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
  • Particle Size Distribution (PSD)
  • ICP-MS
  • Other chemical and materials characterization techniques as required
• Interpret analytical results and determine whether materials meet purity, phase, particle-size, density, and compositional requirements.
• Investigate material failures, contamination, oxidation, phase changes, processing problems, and other technical issues.
• Work with high-temperature furnaces, vacuum equipment, powder-processing equipment, presses, laboratory instruments, and related manufacturing equipment.
• Handle air-sensitive, moisture-sensitive, hygroscopic, reactive, and high-purity materials using appropriate laboratory procedures and inert-atmosphere techniques when required.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, experimental records, processing parameters, and analytical data.
• Prepare technical reports, specifications, test reports, Certificates of Analysis, and internal process documentation.
• Develop and improve standard operating procedures for laboratory and manufacturing processes.
• Support incoming raw-material qualification and finished-product quality control.
• Assist with technical evaluation of customer specifications and custom material requirements.
• Work closely with production, quality, technical sales, and management to transition successful R&D projects into repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Maintain laboratory safety, cleanliness, chemical labeling, proper material storage, and compliance with established safety procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Ceramic Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering , or a closely related technical field.
• Strong fundamental understanding of materials science, chemistry, and materials characterization.
• Interest in hands-on laboratory, R&D, and manufacturing work.
• Ability to analyze experimental data and troubleshoot technical problems.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate technical documentation.
• Ability to safely work with chemicals, powders, laboratory equipment, furnaces, vacuum systems, and manufacturing equipment.
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Excel, Word, and technical data analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous industrial experience is not required. New graduates are encouraged to apply.

Experience through university laboratories, internships, research projects, or previous employment in any of the following areas is desirable:

• Powder metallurgy
• Ceramic processing
• Sputtering targets
• Thin-film materials
• Powder pressing and pelletization
• Sintering
• High-temperature furnaces
• Vacuum processing
• Glovebox or inert-atmosphere processing
• XRD
• SEM/EDS
• Particle-size analysis
• ICP-MS or other elemental-analysis techniques
• Rare-earth materials
• High-purity metals and compounds
• Materials synthesis
• Materials failure analysis
• Experimental and statistical data analysis

M.S. in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field is a plus, but is not required.

Compensation & Benefits

LTS Research Laboratories offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for full-time employees, including:

• Competitive salary
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Health insurance benefits
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave
• Paid company holidays
• Professional development and hands-on technical training
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement
• Exposure to advanced materials, analytical technologies, and manufacturing processes
• Opportunity to work directly on R&D projects from laboratory development through production

Work Authorization

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States .

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are encouraged to apply.

LTS Research Laboratories is not offering new visa sponsorship for this position .

Qualified candidates who are currently in valid H-1B status may be considered for H-1B employer transfer support , subject to eligibility and applicable immigration requirements.

Candidates with an existing approved I-140 and valid U.S. work authorization may also be considered based on their individual immigration and employment authorization status.

Candidates should clearly identify their current U.S. work authorization status during the application process.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is curious about how materials are made and why they behave the way they do.

The ideal candidate enjoys solving practical technical problems, working directly with laboratory equipment, designing experiments, analyzing results, and developing a process from an initial laboratory experiment into a reproducible product.

This position is particularly well suited for a recent graduate who wants broad exposure to materials R&D, analytical characterization, powder processing, sputtering-target manufacturing, high-purity chemicals, rare-earth materials, and advanced materials production rather than working in only one narrow area of materials engineering.

Work Location

This is a full-time, on-site laboratory and manufacturing position in Belmont, North Carolina, in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Local candidates in the Belmont, Charlotte, Gastonia, and surrounding areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

Recent graduates who are currently authorized to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.