Entry Level Scientist

Cambium is dedicated to the development of next generation, high-performance advanced materials needed across land, air, sea and space, for defense and commercial applications.

There is a need for new material solutions that either enable products to be made better, faster, or cheaper. For example, the defense industrial base is seeing a generational shift from large, complex, manned platforms to autonomous, networked systems built around massed production resulting in the emergence of new platforms like UAVs supported by lightweighting capabilities. The emergence of hypersonics is challenging both the performance of materials needed to withstand extreme temperatures and their resulting supply chains. Commercial sectors from space exploration to renewable energy likewise have unique material challenges. Simply put, each requires material solutions and resulting supply chains that enable products to be made easier, faster, and cheaper. Cambium’s mission is to advance these solutions.

Cambium’s innovation platform is vertically integrated to enable rapid development of solutions, from computational material discovery at the front-end through to rapid prototyping and eventual domestic production of advanced composites. To do this, Cambium leverages state-of-the-art advances in every field of relevance, from biological, chemical and material discovery, through to advanced fabrication of composite structures. Its early product pipeline, ranges from supporting the development of hypersonic flight vehicles to enhanced survivability unmanned aerial vehicles to laser-protective eyewear and optics. For example, its activities in thermal protection are designed to better protect various hardware against extreme conditions such as heat, fire and rapid-heating impacts, and from severe aerodynamic heating and pressure loads experienced during flight.

With its newly completed $19.7M Series A round and supported by nearly $30M in various multi-year DoD contracts, Cambium is rapidly building out its team, pilot-scale facilities, and associated commercial capabilities. Its team is growing to around 35 this year and to 50 by the end of 2025. In April, the company will move into a new 25,000 square feet HQ in El Segundo, CA where R&D is predominantly located and where various pilot manufacturing lines will be constructed. Additionally, it has over 10,000 square feet at the Mojave Air and Space Port, CA for rapid prototyping and live demonstrations.

Cambium is positioned for significant growth and impact in various sectors that employ high-performance advanced materials for a wide range of defense and commercial markets. As the company continues to expand its research and development efforts, Cambium is poised to shape the future of materials engineering, driving progress towards more resilient, efficient, and environmentally conscious hardware solutions.

Visit Cambium to learn more about the company and its team.

Cambium is seeking an Entry Level Scientist to join our growing team in Mojave, CA. The successful candidate will have a strategic mindset, a strong desire to help grow a company, be results-oriented and will help us build a work culture of open-mindedness that embraces creativity and contrarian thinking.

THE ROLE

Cambium is seeking a collaboration-oriented, results-driven entry level scientist to join the materials innovation and scale-up team, bridging the gap between new materials discoveries and high-performance commercial applications. Key responsibilities of this role will include assisting with the development of materials solutions and process optimization. These activities will involve extensive collaboration with engineering, product prototyping, business development, as well as supplier interactions. As Cambium experiences rapid growth, the responsibilities for this role are expected to evolve.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Carry out hands-on experiments and characterization relevant to the design, synthesis and formulation of high-performance monomers, thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers for aerospace and defense applications involving optics, and/or high-temperature structures

· Develop, plan, and execute test procedures in conjunction with end-users, partners, and stakeholders

· Optimize process parameters as it pertains to new formula development, materials scale-up, characterization, and processing to establish key specification and prepare for commercialization.

· Communicate clearly and concisely key concepts, development status, performance outcomes, and lessons learned to senior leadership, investors, and collaborators

· Collaborate across multiple teams including world-class experts in biomaterials, polymer science, composites, optics, aerospace components, and defense products

· Partner with cross-functional teams to improve proprietary tools and systems

· Create, contribute to, and/or lead the product demonstration and engineering teams in a manner consistent with Cambium’s mission and values and the growth of Cambium’s business

KEY REQUIREMENTS

· US citizenship or US permanent residency

· B.S. in chemistry, materials science, physics, engineering or a related subject

· Experience in experimental tasks associated with the development of advanced materials and polymers for use in optics, high-temperature, and/or other high-performance applications

· Ability to learn new concepts and experimental/characterization techniques

· Ability to handle simultaneous projects and rapidly changing priorities

· Strong communication and collaboration skills

· Experience working with both government and industry experts in materials science and chemistry

· Ability and desire to travel as needed to contractor and partner locations for project management

BENEFITS

Cambium offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits plan. This includes excellent medical/dental/vision benefits, and a matching 401(k) plan.