Associate Research Scientist

The Associate Research Scientist role is a key contributor within INFICON's Research team, supporting the planning and execution of research activities that advance sensor technology, instrumentation, and product development. This role applies scientific and engineering principles to help bring innovative measurement solutions from concept to validation. You will play a hands‑on role in maintaining lab equipment, laboratory operations, prototype development, and data‑driven analysis.

You will work in our research team in Syracuse, collaborating with a group of around 20 scientists who have backgrounds in physics, chemistry, and other STEM fields. Our team specializes in Residual Gas Analyzers (RGAs), Gas Chromatography (GC), Plasma, Optical Emission Spectroscopy, thin film deposition monitoring tools and sensors, and related technologies.

Our team focuses on driving innovation from a technology push perspective. We investigate emerging technologies for our smart manufacturing solutions and identify the most critical technical assumptions underlying each solution. These assumptions are then validated or invalidated through iterative learning cycles, which include experiments, literature research, simulation, and prototyping. For experimental work, we operate a Thin Film Epicenter equipped with several deposition tools and the Minifab, a research‑type cleanroom designed to test our solutions and products in an application‑focused research environment.

Essential Job Functions

Research & Experimentation

You will plan and conduct research activities in support of ongoing R&D technology push learning cycles, and new product development, applying scientific or engineering principles to the product development process. And build and test materials, sensor prototypes, and systems for research and product validation. You will assist in the design and setup of test stations and experimental setups and will qualify and document prototype performance under defined test conditions.

Data Collection, Processing & Analysis

You will gather, process, and analyze experimental results and data. Maintain accurate and organized records of experimental observations, test results, and maintenance activities. Contribute to updating instruction manuals, test procedures, and research documentation in collaboration with senior researchers.

Laboratory Equipment & Maintenance

You will perform preventive and corrective maintenance on laboratory equipment, including vacuum chambers, roughing pumps, cryopumps, compressors, chillers, and water circulation systems (pumps, filters, tanks, and associated plumbing). Responsibilities also include simple machining, fixture building, and assembly tasks to support test stand setup and ongoing research needs. You will be expected to exercise a strong awareness of laboratory hazards such as implosion, explosion, high‑voltage (up to 10kV), pyrophoric, and hazardous materials, where applicable.

Maintenance duties might also extend to equipment in the cleanroom, including the SEM, scrubber, and other specialized tools.

Lab Operations & Support

You will support laboratory organization and 5S initiatives. Monitor and restock laboratory consumables and materials; place and track orders with vendors. Assist research scientists with repetitive or time‑sensitive laboratory tasks, including supervision of deposition processes as required. Respond independently to routine operational situations such as water leaks or minor equipment anomalies.

Travel

You are expected to have the ability to travel up to 5% of the time for client meetings, team events, conferences, or site visits.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related STEM discipline with at least 2 years of relevant laboratory or research experience;
  OR a Master's or Ph.D. in a related field with 0–2 years of experience. Candidates with a strong background in Physics or Chemistry and hands‑on laboratory experience are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Experience with high vacuum systems, thin film deposition technologies and…