Principal Engineer - Materials Discovery Research Institute

Principal Research Engineer
• Materials Discovery Research Institute

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Research Engineer at UL Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) based in our Skokie, Illinois, facilities. The principal research engineer partners with researchers and engineers to apply advanced scientific and engineering expertise in materials discovery and development. This role focuses on demonstrating the performance, scalability, and real‑world impact of novel materials—from laboratory concepts through prototype and demonstration scale—to advance global safety and sustainability.

• Leverage deep expertise in materials development, scale‑up, and testing to plan, design, and execute engineering experiments that transition materials from lab‑scale to demonstration‑scale prototypes.
• Lead complex research initiatives through effective planning, execution, and oversight, ensuring project objectives, quality standards, timelines, and budgets are met; serve as Principal Investigator for large research programs.
• Contribute to strategic and long‑range planning by identifying emerging growth areas, evaluating technical and market opportunities, and developing techno‑economic models and assessment tools.
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members, fostering technical excellence, leadership capability, and professional growth.
• Ensure accurate and timely collection, analysis, documentation, and archiving of research data within LIMS or designated data repositories; actively support data science initiatives and cross‑functional data efforts.
• Expand the institute’s visibility and influence through national and international presentations, publications, and active participation in external professional organizations.
• Leverage strong technical judgment, scientific creativity, independent thinking, and effective collaboration across disciplines.
• Comply with the Underwriters Laboratories Code of Conduct and all laboratory safety, physical security, and digital security requirements.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Professional Competencies and Personal Attributes:

• Collaborative, inclusive, and positive work ethic.
• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels with strong attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills enabling productive collaboration with researchers, engineers, and cross‑functional partners.
• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to advancing the materials discovery and research mission.
• Proven problem‑solving skills, including root‑cause analysis and development of practical, scalable solutions.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Adaptability, responsiveness, and a sense of urgency, with a balanced focus on near‑term results and long‑term improvement.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (less than 10% annually) for training, conferences, and project‑related activities.

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline plus 10 years post Ph.D. of relevant experience, OR
• Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline plus 12 years post master’s of relevant experience, OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline plus 15 years post bachelor’s of relevant experience.

• Hands‑on success in safely and efficiently conducting research and analyzing data to discover, develop, and advance new materials through TRL
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• Specialized expertise in scaling and testing materials (e.g., catalysts, adsorbents) at laboratory, pilot, and/or demonstration scale.
• High proficiency using Plant Information software for data collection, analysis, and visualization.
• Strong track record of leading and delivering complex, team‑based research projects.
• Expert proficiency with MSExcel, and high proficiency with MS Office applications, including PowerPoint and Teams.
• Experience with programming languages used for data acquisition, analysis, – Python and Git are a plus.

Salary Range: $–$. All employees are eligible for bonus compensation. Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans; a generous 401(k) matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay plus an additional 4% into your retirement savings after the first year of continuous employment. Paid time off includes vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.