Company Overview

Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2, water, and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified, modular, and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel.

Since our founding in 2021, Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time, including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system, capable of producing ~10,000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. Lydian is backed by top climate investors including Congruent Ventures, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Union Square Ventures, Voyager Ventures, Grok Ventures, and Overture. We are building a motivated, diverse, and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their work. In particular, we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest, highest impact problems that come their way.

Position Overview

Lydian is looking for a Senior Materials Engineer to advance the performance and processing of the materials at the heart of our reactor and module platforms. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Materials Design & Manufacturing, you will drive the continued development and refinement of our high-temperature ceramic and metal materials, including various joints, interfaces, and protective coatings. You will connect that work to real-world reactor performance and deepen the materials understanding that underpins our manufacturing scale-up and quality control.

This is a hands-on, individual-contributor role for an engineer who pairs deep materials fundamentals with a strong sense of urgency. You will not only develop materials in the lab but also engage external vendors and technical partners, translating materials science theory into what suppliers can actually deliver and helping build a development-and-supply cycle that keeps pace with our design timelines. You will work alongside a small, high-caliber materials team as we advance our materials and processes toward commercial scale.

This role is based onsite in Charlestown, MA and requires in-person collaboration five days per week, with up to 25% required travel to partners and suppliers.

Responsibilities

Own the continued selection and development of ceramic and metallic materials and components, driving improvements in electrical performance, strength, and consistency

Develop joints and interfaces between various ceramics and metals, and mature the associated joining processes

Advance protective coatings that safeguard materials under operating conditions

Connect material properties to reactor-level performance, ensuring materials development stays aligned with mechanical design, operating modes, and core technical program priorities

Lead durability assessments and root-cause analyses, and define the quality-control parameters and acceptance criteria that ensure consistent material performance

Develop advanced characterization and measurement methods for the electrical and mechanical properties of ceramic and metallic materials

Translate R&D materials and process developments into scale-up-ready engineering specifications and process controls

Engage, evaluate, and manage external technical partners, anticipating design timelines, queuing vendors, managing lead times, and specifying material requirements to build a reliable, cyclical development and supply-chain system

Serve as a cross-functional collaborator, interfacing with mechanical design, catalysis, testing, and process engineering teams

Qualifications

MS or PhD in Materials Science, or an equivalent degree, with a minimum of 3 years of experience working with materials aimed at industrial application in a manufacturing-focused environment.

Deep expertise in materials properties and performance for high-temperature applications.

Experience with and understanding of ceramic materials manufacturing and joining processes.