Applications Engineer

Job Description

Salary: $70,304 - $109,000 Dependent on Experience

About ACI Materials

ACI Materials has developed a breakthrough processing technology that fundamentally transforms advanced materials manufacturing. Our proprietary platform delivers 10-100x performance improvements in conductive inks, aerospace coatings, and electronic adhesives while reducing manufacturing costs and waste streams. ACI is positioned at the epicenter of North American electronics manufacturing reshoring and the global transition to sustainable materials processing. As we scale from current operations to a world-class commercial organization to capture the extraordinary market opportunity ahead.

The Opportunity

Join a deep tech company transitioning from development to commercial-scale manufacturing serving aerospace, energy, mobility, advanced electronics, cosmetics, and personal care sectors. As an AS9100 and ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, we engineer advanced material formulations using proprietary fluid dynamics processing technology that fundamentally transforms material properties at the molecular level, enabling breakthrough performance across multiple industrial applications.

The Applications Engineer intersects business development and pilot manufacturing, enabling you to translate customer challenges into technical solutions while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience with dispersion processing, materials characterization, and application testing. You'll work directly with the VP of Business Development and collaborate with R&D to support customer engagements, execute pilot manufacturing campaigns, and validate process parameters that bridge laboratory formulations to production-scale operations.

Core Responsibilities

Execute pilot manufacturing campaigns supporting customer evaluation programs, processing material batches from 100 grams to 5 kilograms while documenting process parameters, material properties, and quality metrics

Operate and troubleshoot high-energy dispersion systems, managing process variables including pressure, flow rate, and temperature control, to achieve target particle size distributions and rheological properties

Conduct materials characterization using particle size analyzers, rheometers, spectrophotometers, and other analytical instruments, interpreting results to validate formulation performance and identify process optimization opportunities

Support business development activities by preparing technical samples, conducting application demonstrations using in-house or customer-provided equipment, documenting processing windows, and translating performance data into customer-facing technical communications

Collaborate with the VP of Business Development and, when appropriate, with customers and application experts to develop application-specific process guidelines, conducting deposition trials, while systematically capturing setup parameters, material behavior, and recommended usage conditions

Maintain detailed experimental records capturing time, cost, and technical data to support Design of Experiments frameworks, process optimization modeling, and financial viability assessments for new product opportunities

Contribute to technical documentation including Standard Operating Procedures, process development reports, and customer-facing technical white papers that communicate ACI's capabilities and application guidance

Required Qualifications

B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics with 0-3 years experience (December 2025 and Spring 2026 graduates encouraged to apply)

Strong foundation in materials characterization techniques, with demonstrated ability to operate analytical instruments and interpret quantitative data

Hands-on laboratory experience with dispersion systems, coating processes, or materials synthesis from research projects, internships, or coursework is acceptable.

Systematic approach to experimental design and data collection, with the ability to maintain detailed records supporting both technical analysis and cost modeling

Clear technical communication skills enabling effective interaction with both internal R&D teams and external customers across diverse technical backgrounds

Demonstrated ability to work independently while knowing when to seek guidance, particularly when navigating equipment troubleshooting or unexpected experimental results

Preferred Qualifications

Understanding of colloidal systems, particle dispersion, or rheology through coursework or research experience

Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for data analysis, experimental design optimization, or process modeling

Experience with printing processes (screen printing, inkjet, aerosol jet) or coating application techniques (doctor blade, spray coating, dip coating)

Familiarity with Design of Experiments methodologies or statistical process control concepts

Internship or co-op experience in manufacturing, materials processing, or chemical production environments

The Applications Engineer Opportunity

While most companies either conduct pure research or run established production, ACI bridges both worlds through proprietary dispersion processing that enables advanced formulations across multiple industrial and emerging applications. This Applications Engineer role accelerates your professional development by giving you visibility into the full commercialization cycle: from running technical demonstrations and application tests to assessing manufacturing economics and documenting scalable processes that support customer decisions and internal scale-up.

You'll gain immediate exposure to diverse industries and technical challenges that typical entry-level positions don't provide. This variety builds both technical depth and commercial awareness that positions you for rapid advancement.

Working directly with the VP of Business Development provides mentorship on how technical capabilities translate to market value. You will experience firsthand how technical performance specifications connect to commercial needs by generating the data and application insights that inform customer-driven conversations. This combination of hands-on materials processing and application-focused exposure to business development creates a foundation that distinguishes you from peers limited to either pure laboratory work or purely commercial roles.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: Dependent on experience and technical depth

Equity compensation: Stock options with significant upside potential tied to company growth

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with company match

Professional development support for continued technical education and certifications

Full-time