Sr. R&D Technician

Senior R&D Technician

Halo Materials is seeking a Senior R&D Technician to accelerate the buildout and operation of our lab and pilot infrastructure. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who thrives in dynamic R&D environments and enjoys building, fixing, optimizing, and improving complex systems.

You'll play a foundational role in enabling faster, more parallelized, and increasingly automated experimentation, while ensuring that safety and operational excellence remain uncompromised. This role is ideal for someone who has a "craftsman" attitude towards their work and also enjoys mentoring others.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead lab buildout efforts, including installation, calibration, testing, and troubleshooting of equipment.
• Enable more parallel, frequent, and automated experiments by improving lab infrastructure and workflows. Identify and implement process improvements that enhance speed, reliability, and experimental throughput.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and high-performing lab and pilot environment.
• Partner closely with R&D engineers and scientists to align lab operations with evolving experimental priorities.
• Manage and mentor a team of lab technicians, setting standards for craftsmanship, safety, and execution.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) regulations and best practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience executing R&D projects, including installing, maintaining, and repairing laboratory or pilot-scale equipment.
• A craftsman's mindset: pride in building safe, durable, and high-quality lab infrastructure.
• Deep familiarity with EHS standards and safe lab operations.
• A proactive, collaborative approach to working with scientists and engineers.
• A track record of identifying problems and owning both the diagnosis and solution.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and comfort working across mechanical, electrical, and process systems.
• A "get it done" mentality suited to a fast-paced startup environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience in adjacent industries where similar high-temperature, catalytic, carbon, or materials growth processes are used — such as petrochemicals, advanced ceramics, specialty chemicals, battery materials, semiconductors, metallurgy, or industrial gas processing.

What We Look For (Beyond the Resume)

• A track record of execution — how you design experiments, make decisions with imperfect data, and drive results matters as much as where you've worked.
• Comfort operating in both research and production environments; experience in one or both is valuable, but your ability to move science toward application is what counts.
• Ownership mentality with high accountability and curiosity.
• Grit, resilience, and an ability to turn ambiguity into actionable next steps.
• Entrepreneurial speed balanced with technical discipline.

$75,000 - $90,000 a year

Why Join Halo Materials?

• Strengthen Energy & Supply Chains
  - Work on advanced materials that directly impact batteries, energy systems, and U.S. manufacturing resilience.
• Scale Breakthrough Graphite Technology
  - Help scale a breakthrough graphite technology from lab experimentation to real commercial production.
• Rigorous Science, Startup Velocity
  - Join a mission-driven team that values rigorous science, fast execution, and taking care of its people.
• Technical Ownership & Autonomy
  - Take meaningful ownership in a technically ambitious environment where your contributions shape the direction of the company.
• Competitive pay, full benefits, and equity
  - Competitive compensation, strong benefits, and the opportunity to grow quickly inside a serious deep tech venture backed by experienced builders.
• Some of our Benefits:
• An independent role with a supportive and flexible work environment
• Time for self-development, research, training, conferences, or certification schemes
• Full range of competitive benefits including a health care stipend and equity in a fast-growing startup