Headquartered in West Sacramento, Origin Materials is the world's leading carbon negative materials company. Origin’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials. Over the past 10 years, Origin has developed a platform for turning the carbon found in non-food biomass into useful materials, while capturing carbon in the process. Origin’s patented drop-in core technology, economics and carbon impact have been validated by trusted third parties and are supported by a growing list of major global customers and investors. Origin’s first plant is expected to be operational in 2022 with a second, full-scale commercial plant expected to be operational by 2025 and plans for additional expansion over the next decade. For more information, visit www.originmaterials.com.
Origin Materials believes in protecting its employees and the community and, as such, requires employees who come on site to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Origin provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Our People
We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. When you take a job at Origin, you do more than switch companies or advance your career. You become part of the Origin community: an inclusive group of hardworking, uniquely talented people who drive innovation.
Benefits and Perks
You will work with great people. You will be joining a close-knit group of A+ players who like to hustle, create, and work hard because we believe in Origin’s mission: to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials.
You will make a difference. We’re working on big things, so every person has the opportunity to make an impact.
You will grow. There are endless opportunities at Origin to learn and improve. You’ll be surrounded by great minds and presented with big challenges. And you and your teammates will push one another to overcome those challenges.
You will enjoy excellent benefits. We offer a wide range of insurance including Medical and Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life, as well as a 401k, EAP, and generous leave.
You will have flexibility. We don’t believe in one size fits all when it comes to work location and schedule. We care about safety and efficiency so work where and when you are at your best. Also, we recognize our team works hard so we want you to take time off when you need it. That’s why we have a flexible time off policy.
About the Position You will be responsible for:
Core responsibilities that you must be autonomous in within first two months:
Plan projects that probe the effects of independent variables on experiment results Operate bench-scale laboratory equipment. This includes operating small-scale reactors, kilns/tube furnaces, media mills, performing distillations, crystallizations, and dilutions, as well as processing solid and liquid samples. Collect, analyze, and process raw data using standard software and techniques Maintain an electronic notebook detailing all data measured, observations, and steps performed Clearly communicate experiment purpose and results verbally and in writing Work with external vendors and consultants to procure reagents/supplies, perform sample analysis, and technology development Work safely with hazardous chemicals, wear appropriate PPE, participate in group hazard analysis, and perform regular lab inspections Maintain a clean and tidy laboratory working environment
Other responsibilities:
Assist in purchasing, installing, and commissioning new lab equipment Support the development of new process methods to accomplish specific project goals Working on a wide range of products and systems at scales from laboratory to pilot implementation. Participate in steps from testing to modeling to scale-up Lead tech transfers with engineering team when going from bench to pilot scale Improving existing processes and providing support to pilot plant operations Troubleshooting existing processes when observations deviate from the known procedure Recreate upset conditions in controlled bench experiments to help determine causes of failure Evaluating the chemical and physical properties of various substances Train others on lab equipment and existing procedures Author/edit SOGs (standard operating guidelines) With external vendors: Find vendors and develop plan to vet capabilities Work with vendor to have them suggest test parameters, or if needed, provide test parameters Identify potential error or inconsistency with vendors analysis and provide feedback Pushing the frontier of our technical model
About You
You: Value a safety culture. You have respect for and are comfortable working with hazardous chemicals Passion for science and a life long interest in learning Flexibility to work on a wide variety of experimental procedures Collaborate and communicate within your department and across the company Follow procedures with keen attention to details and approach problems with critical thinking
Physical Demands / Work Environment:
Ability to work with glassware Ability to safely handle hazardous materials Ability to move / lift 50 pounds Ability to bend to reach floor level Ability to be on your feet up to 8 hours a day Ability to wear a respirator for 1+ hour a day Your Experience:
Have to Have it:
Professional Experience:
5+ years laboratory (industrial R&D product/process development) experience with BS, or 3+ years laboratory (industrial R&D product/process development) experience with MS
Education:
BS or MS in chemistry, chemical engineering, material science, or mechanical engineering from an accredited school
Preferred qualifications:
Experience with any of the following:
Nano-materials characterization (Electron microscopy, SEM, TEM), nitrogen physisorption, XRD, particle size distribution) Bench-top liquid-phase reactors (e.g. Parr reactors) Solids/Powders High-temperature kilns/furnaces Washing, filtration, and drying of powders Gas cylinders/regulators Product development Stress/strain testing of materials Polymer/filler compounding Heating value testing Ability to work with external vendors for sample analysis
The Research Chemist with Materials Focus will be expected to safely and autonomously plan and execute both routine and novel lab experiments to study a wide range of attributes including: Synthesis in bench-top reactors, solids processing (washing, filtration, calcination, particle size reduction) and solids analysis (SEM, surface area, elemental composition, particle size distribution, etc.). The work will assist in product development, scale up, and foundational research on novel biomass-derived solid compounds.