Materials Scientist, Process Development

RxSight® is an ophthalmic medical technology corporation headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California that has commercialized the world’s first and only adjustable intraocular lens (IOL) that is customized after cataract surgery. The company’s mission is to revolutionize the premium cataract surgery experience by allowing surgeons to partner with their patients to achieve optimized results for every unique eye.

OVERVIEW:

The Materials Scientist will lead development activities focused on translating generally established materials and prototype manufacturing processes into robust, scalable, and reproducible production processes. This role is responsible for advancing products from feasibility-stage concepts through process development, verification activities, and manufacturing transfer. The successful candidate will develop a deep understanding of silicone- and acrylic-based systems, including material processing, curing, molding, and associated manufacturing operations.

The Materials Scientist will independently identify and investigate sources of process variability, develop mechanistic understanding of material and process behavior, generate and test hypotheses, and implement improvements that enhance consistency, quality, and manufacturability. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, data-driven decision making, and the ability to collaborate effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and other R&D functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead development activities supporting transition of products and processes from feasibility through process development and manufacturing transfer.
• Develop fundamental understanding of interactions between material properties, process conditions, tooling, and product performance.
• Design and execute experimental studies to improve process robustness, reduce variability, and establish process understanding.
• Investigate sources of variation in materials and manufacturing processes using structured root-cause analysis methodologies.
• Develop mechanistic models and data-driven hypotheses to explain process behavior and guide process improvements.
• Apply statistical analysis, design of experiments (DOE), and data visualization techniques to identify key process drivers and optimize performance.
• Characterize and improve curing, molding, handling, and processing operations for silicone- and acrylic-based materials.
• Evaluate material-process interactions and their impact on final product quality, dimensional stability, optical performance, and manufacturability.
• Develop and document process parameters, operating windows, process controls, and characterization methods necessary to support process transfer and scale-up.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to project teams and senior management.
• Support troubleshooting and problem-solving activities related to development-scale and pilot-scale manufacturing processes.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong understanding of polymeric materials, particularly silicones, acrylics, hydrogels, or other soft-material systems.
• Experience with polymer processing, curing, molding, manufacturing scale-up, or process development activities.
• Understanding of relationships between materials, processing conditions, microstructure, and product performance.
• Familiarity with surface chemistry, surface modification, coatings, release mechanisms, or related phenomena affecting manufacturing processes is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems in a development environment.
• Strong root-cause investigation and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience developing mechanistic understanding of complex systems through experimentation and analysis.
• Strong statistical analysis capabilities, including design of experiments, multivariate analysis, and process capability assessment.
• Ability to analyze large and complex datasets and translate findings into actionable process improvements.
• Experience using scientific programming, statistical software, or advanced data analysis tools is desirable.
• Experience with materials characterization techniques relevant to soft materials and polymers, such as rheology, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, microscopy, mechanical testing, or related methods.
• Ability to select and apply appropriate characterization techniques to investigate material and process behavior.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional environments.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None initially.
• May provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior scientists, engineers, technicians, or cross-functional project teams.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND TRAINING:

• Ph.D. or M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or related discipline.
• Significant experience working with polymeric or soft-material systems is strongly preferred and may be considered more important than specific degree discipline.
• Experience supporting transfer of processes from development environments into manufacturing environments preferred.
• Experience with silicone, acrylic, ophthalmic, or medical-device materials is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex process variability issues through experimental investigation and data-driven decision making.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• None

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• MS Office
• Spreadsheet Software
• Laboratory Information Management System

Notice to Staffing Agencies and Search Firms:

RxSight does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from staffing agencies or search firms for any employment opportunities. All agency engagements must be authorized in writing for a specific position by RxSight’s Talent Acquisition department. Any resumes or candidate information submitted without such specific engagement will be considered unsolicited and the property of RxSight. No fees will be paid in the event a candidate is hired under these circumstances.