Laboratory Manager

Location: Austin, Texas

Department: Research & Development
Reports to: Lab Manager
Type: Full-Time

About HydroGraph

HydroGraph is a hyper-growth advanced materials company scaling pristine, high-performance graphene via its patented Hyperion detonation technology. With more than 70 active commercial projects, a growing global footprint, and industry-leading material quality (99.8% pure graphene), HydroGraph is building the next generation of engineered materials for coatings, composites, and energy storage. Our new Austin HQ will serve as the flagship center for innovation, applied R&D, customer engagement, and rapid material development.

Role Overview

The Lab Manager will lead the R&D laboratory at HydroGraph’s Austin headquarters, ensuring the facility operates with world-class scientific rigor, organization, safety, and productivity. This leader will drive the development of graphene derivatives, functionalized forms, doped materials, and new processing techniques, enabling HydroGraph’s commercial teams to deliver tailored solutions to customers in multiple sectors.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role with equal emphasis on scientific innovation, lab operations, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate is an experienced materials scientist or chemist with deep expertise in carbon nanomaterials and a passion for translating scientific breakthroughs into scalable commercial products.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Leadership & Operations

• Own the day-to-day operations of HydroGraph’s R&D lab; ensure a clean, organized, and efficient environment at all times.


• Establish and maintain SOPs, safety protocols, and good laboratory practices (GLP).


• Oversee equipment maintenance, calibration, procurement, and vendor management.


• Implement robust data management, sample tracking, and documentation systems.


• Ensure the lab is "audit-ready" for partners, customers, and regulators.

Materials Development (Graphene Derivatives & Advanced Processing)

• Lead the creation of new graphene derivatives, including functionalized, doped, hybridized, surface-modified, and composite-ready materials.


• Develop scalable processes for dispersion, stabilization, exfoliation, and formulation.


• Conduct systematic studies to optimize purity, surface area, oxygen content, defect density, and other tunable characteristics.


• Characterize materials using Raman, SEM/TEM, XPS, BET, TGA, FTIR, and other relevant techniques.


• Translate customer requirements into repeatable material recipes and production protocols.

Innovation & Application Development

• Build a roadmap for HydroGraph’s next-generation materials platform (2025–2030).


• Identify novel processing methods—thermal, chemical, mechanical, plasma, microwave, and surface treatments—to expand our product capabilities.


• Collaborate closely with the commercial team to support feasibility studies and product validation.


• Partner with manufacturing on scale-up readiness and transfer of lab processes to production.

Team Development & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a small but rapidly growing R&D team of scientists, technicians, and interns.


• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, creativity, and continuous improvement.


• Coordinate with Operations, Commercial, Quality, and Technical Advisory Board members.


• Present findings to executive leadership and contribute to IP strategy and patent filings.

Quality, Compliance & Documentation

• Oversee material characterization and quality benchmarking for consistency across batches.


• Create standardized reference materials and internal quality specifications.


• Ensure all experimental work is properly documented and reproducible.


• Support regulatory approvals (EPA, DoD requirements, etc.) with technical data.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Nanotechnology, or related field.


• 7+ years of laboratory experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role.


• Expertise in carbon nanomaterials (graphene, graphene oxide, graphite derivatives, CNTs, or related).


• Strong track record in functionalization chemistry, surface modification, or nano-material processing.


• Hands-on experience with advanced characterization instrumentation.


• Demonstrated ability to create and optimize material recipes in a commercial or translational research environment.


• Exceptional organizational, documentation, and communication skills.


• Must be willing to work in person in Austin, Texas. 


• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Preferred

• Experience with high-energy synthesis.


• Background working with customers on application development.


• Experience contributing to IP strategy or patent filings.


• Prior work in startups or high-growth advanced materials companies.

Competencies

• Scientific Rigor & Curiosity: Strong analytical mindset and deep desire to innovate.


• Operational Excellence: Ability to maintain world-class lab organization and systems.


• Leadership: Team builder with clear communication and hands-on mentorship.


• Commercial Awareness: Understands how materials translate into market value.


• Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-moving, high-growth environment with evolving priorities.

Why Join HydroGraph

• Lead the core scientific engine of one of the fastest-growing graphene companies in the world.


• Shape a next-generation materials platform used across aerospace, energy, infrastructure, consumer goods, and defense.


• Work directly with global partners and world-class advisors (GEIC, OEMs, DoD).


• Competitive compensation, equity participation, and career advancement as the company scales.