Post Doctoral Industrial Scientist

Post Doctoral Industrial Scientist

Location:

Santa Barbara, CA (Hybrid). Technical. Reporting to R&D Management.

Our purpose is to accelerate the breakthroughs that create a brighter future for our world. Our technology and scientific expertise enable our customers to discover and bring to market exciting new advances that drive human progress. We aim to be the scientific instrumentation partner in every significant lab and production facility across the world. Oxford Instruments Asylum Research is manufacturer of nanotechnology instrumentation for industry and research.

Specifically, we design, build and sell Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM) which are used to analyze material topography, elasticity, conductivity and other properties. We are part of the wider Oxford Instruments Group that includes the Imaging & Analysis Division. The I&A Division includes Andor Technology, our Electron Microscopy products, Nano Indentor, Raman products and NMR product lines. Plasma Technology and X‑Ray Technology are part of the Advanced Technology Division.

With a sixty‑year history, and fourteen Queen’s Awards and a King’s Award for Enterprise, our world‑class products and technologies are helping our customers to address the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

The Post Doctoral Industrial Scientist will drive the development of innovative Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) applications. In this role, you will translate customer needs into practical measurement solutions, working across a wide range of scientific and industrial fields. You will collaborate closely with engineering, product management, and commercial teams to develop, validate, and launch new AFM capabilities that deliver real value to customers.

• Lead the development of new AFM applications, with a strong focus on electrical measurements and emerging technologies.
• Apply AFM expertise across diverse areas such as:
  • Nanomechanics
  • Electronics and semiconductors
  • Batteries and photovoltaics
  • Chemical and correlative imaging
  • Measurement automation
• Understand customer workflows, challenges, and goals through direct engagement and literature review.
• Translate customer needs into clear technical requirements and measurement approaches.
• Drive innovation by developing new methodologies and generating intellectual property.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Serve as the technical lead for application development projects.
• Design, perform, and analyze experiments to develop new measurement techniques.
• Collaborate with scientists, engineers, and software developers to build and refine solutions.
• Develop test protocols and validation methods to ensure solutions are reliable and scalable.
• Create demonstration samples, workflows, and materials to showcase new capabilities internally and externally.

• Support sales efforts through customer demonstrations and technical presentations.
• Train sales and applications teams on AFM systems and new capabilities.
• Present new developments at conferences, trade shows, and customer meetings.

• Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of strong hands‑on experience with AFM or related nanoscale characterization techniques.
• Experience in one or more relevant application areas (e.g., electrical measurements, semiconductors, energy materials, etc.).
• Extensive skill in high‑level language programming such as Python, IGOR or MATLAB.
• Proven ability to design experiments and translate concepts into practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail, collaboration and communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving abilities with a creative, solutions‑oriented mindset.

In accordance with California law, the expected salary for this full‑time, benefited position is between $75,000 - $90,000
. The actual compensation will be determined considering factors such as relevant skills and experience and other factors permitted by law.

• Generous benefit packages – We offer our employees competitive health insurance options, including Medical,…