Research Engineer

Via Separations$93K — $110K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
  • 3+ years in a laboratory or pilot plant setting; membrane separation experience is a major advantage.
  • Skilled in wet chemistry and handling pressurized fluid systems.
  • Competent with basic analytical instruments (e.g., GC, UV-Vis).
  • Builder mindset with manual dexterity; enjoys hands-on prototyping and troubleshooting.
  • U.S. work authorization required.

Responsibilities

  • Characterize new industrial feedstocks for compatibility with membrane technology.
  • Conduct bench-scale filtration experiments to measure solute rejection, flux, and permeability.
  • Design and run long-term experiments to assess membrane durability and fouling.
  • Support R&D by performing hand coatings and casting for membrane prototypes.
  • Utilize analytical tools to provide accurate data on feed and permeate streams.
  • Analyze results and maintain documentation to inform team decisions on new applications.

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation package with equity options.
  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance.
  • Disability & Life Insurance provided.
  • 401(k) plan available.
  • 12 weeks paid Family Leave.
  • Flexible PTO policy.
  • Paid time off for company holidays.
Full Job Description
Role Description
Via is seeking a hands-on Research Engineer II to join our New Applications group. This role is critical to expanding Via's reach into new industrial sectors. You will be responsible for the "first look" at diverse industrial feedstocks, determining how our membrane technology stands up to new chemical environments. This position sits at the bridge between R&D and commercial deployment, requiring a mix of disciplined analytical testing and creative material fabrication.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Feedstock Screening: Characterize and test new industrial feedstocks to evaluate safety as well as compatibility and performance with Via's membrane platforms.
  • >
  • Performance Benchmarking: Execute bench-scale filtration experiments to measure critical metrics, specifically solute rejection, flux, and permeability.
  • >
  • Lifetime & Stability Testing: Design and run long-term experiments to determine membrane durability, fouling rates, and cleaning effectiveness over time.
  • >
  • Membrane Fabrication: Support the R&D pipeline by performing "hand coatings" and bench-top membrane casting to iterate on novel surface chemistries.
  • >
  • Analytical Measurement: Utilize analytical tools (e.g., GC, UV-Vis, TOC, KF, or conductivity) to provide high-accuracy data on feed and permeate streams.
  • >
  • Data Synthesis: Analyze experimental results, maintain rigorous documentation, and communicate findings to the engineering and sales teams to inform go/no-go decisions on new applications.


The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these qualifications:

  • Education: B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
  • >
  • Experience: 3 years of experience in a laboratory or pilot plant environment. Experience with membrane separations (RO, NF, UF) is a significant plus.
  • >
  • Technical Skills: Proficiency with wet chemistry, handling pressurized fluid systems, and basic analytical instrumentation.
  • >
  • Behavioral Competencies: A "builder" mindset with a high degree of manual dexterity; you enjoy working with your hands, troubleshooting hardware, and iterating on physical prototypes.
  • >
  • Travel: Occasional travel (up to 10%) to customer sites or field pilots may be required.
  • >
  • U.S. work authorization is required for this role.
  • >


We Offer:

  • Competitive compensation package, including equity options
  • >
  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • >
  • Disability & Life Insurance
  • >
  • 401(k)
  • >
  • 12 weeks paid Family Leave
  • >
  • Flexible PTO
  • >
  • Paid time off for Company holidays
  • >


$93,100 - $110,000 a year

In addition to the base salary range listed above, Via's compensation package includes an 8% annual performance bonus and equity options.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Via may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role!

About Via Separations

Via Separations is a materials science company that is developing a membrane technology to reduce the energy consumption of industrial separations. The company's technology is based on a new class of materials that can selectively separate molecules with high efficiency and low energy consumption. Via Separations is focused on developing membranes for the chemical and petrochemical industries, which are some of the largest energy consumers in the world. The company was founded in 2016 by Shreya Dave and Brent Keller, and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Learn more about Via Separations
Size
10 employees
Industry
Founded
2016

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