Research Translation Specialist- Functional Materials

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Position Summary

Reporting to the manager of research translation, the Research Translation Specialist will provide expert consultancy and engineering services to KAUST researchers. The specialist will be able to deploy technical skills broadly across a number of projects focused on research translation. The job holder will work with a team of engineers, researchers, designers, and stakeholders to drive the innovation, development, testing and deployment of innovative technologies at KAUST. The role will involve collaborative projects across different research groups within KAUST and other premier academic and industrial partner institutions that focus on impactful research and science-driven technology development.

Competencies

• Knowledge of designing and developing equipment used in functional materials synthesis and fabrication
• Knowledge of methods of material processing and control
• Knowledge of the research and development value chain, including technology readiness assessment
• Knowledge of intellectual property implications for scientific research projects
• Strategic planning, organization, time management, analytical, and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and implement changes
• Demonstrated ability to analyze workflows to streamline and improve business processes and workflows
• Ability to work independently using own initiative, handle multiple and complex tasks and prioritize ongoing and new work assignments and deliver high-quality work against tight deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively and foster a cooperative work environment with multi-cultural research faculty, university research administrators, graduate students, colleagues, and others at all levels who are engaged in world-class research
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English. Strong Arabic communication skills is a plus

Major Responsibilities

• Translate research ideas and concepts into clearly defined new products and new components designs that capture both business and user requirements
• Work as an integral part of the research translation team, interfacing with external fabricators/vendors to apply state of the art industry standards, tools and technologies
• Prepare design documentations and application requirements specifications
• Translate stakeholder input (e.g. from partners, technical team, end users, and industry representatives) into high level and low-level product requirements
• Collaborate with a team of manufacturing professionals and engineers to evaluate process/product prototypes to determine production feasibility and costs
• Assist in the development of technology roadmaps and perform gap analysis for technology maturation
• Visit external manufacturing vendors (e.g., 3rd party vendors) to guide process/technology development activities related to new product development, process improvements or new equipment evaluation
• Select, design and evaluate a variety of materials (e.g., thermoplastics, elastomers, composites, adhesives) to determine the best combination of materials for specific application
• Utilize materials science and/or engineering principles to develop, identify and evaluate material properties, material processability and material-based product performance for target applications
• Create cost reduction ideas, manage, evaluate feasibility, conduct testing, and direct manufacturing till implementation of the concept
• Establish test plans, perform or direct testing using in-house or out-sourced resources, write technical reports to communicate the progress or evaluation judgment
• Identify and define problems, collect data and draw valid conclusions
• Work independently, with limited direction, to provide engineering solutions in areas such as materials development, materials processing, and materials characterization to resolve process problems and improve or optimize materials

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• A degree in Polymer or Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering or other related field is highly preferred with industry experience of 10 years (for Bachelor’s degree), 8 years (for Master’s degree) and 4 Years (for PhD degree)
• At least five years of experience working with functional materials either as a materials engineer or a manufacturing process engineer.

Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of process-structure-property relationships in functional materials and their relevant manufacturing processes
• Practical experience in materials process scale-up and the transfer of product from lab into manufacturing
• Experience in processing and qualification of materials for renewable energy and sensing applications
• Must understand process validation techniques and application regulations
• Expertise in statistical analysis, mechanical testing, fatigue, metallography, SEM/EDS, TEM, XRD, CT-XRAY, material testing global and local standards and specification development
• Six Sigma Blackbelt certified is desirable

About KAUST

Located on the Red Sea 80 km north of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, KAUST is an international graduate-level research university. KAUST offers state-of-the-art research facilities, including one of the fastest supercomputers in the world, and an attractive compensation package, including a tax-free salary, fully furnished on-campus housing, four weeks of paid annual leave (in addition to 15 national holidays), extensive health care coverage (medical and dental), relocation assistance, and free education at KAUST international schools for children. The initial appointment is for three years with options for renewal.

Job Type: Full-time