Entegris is currently seeking aPolymerCharacterization Scientist, CMPPadto join our Materials Solutions Division R&D team. This position will be based at our Aurora (Greater Chicago Area) facility.

In this role, you will develop and advance fundamental understanding of the mechanical and rheological behavior of polymer systems used in CMP pad materials. You will lead the development of metrology capabilities and analytical frameworks that enable deep insight into structure–property relationships, supporting improved product design, consistency, and performance.

WhatYou’llDo

Metrology & Method Development:

• Develop, optimize, and standardize mechanical testing methods(e.g., DMA, stress–strain, creep, oscillatory rheology)for CMP pad materials across development and manufacturing environments

• Establish rheological characterization protocols (e.g., cure kinetics, viscoelastic behavior, frequency/temperature sweeps) to understand polymer network formation and processing sensitivity

• Define and implement measurement best practices, calibration methods, and inter-lab correlation to ensure data consistency and reproducibility

EstablishStructure–Property–PerformanceRelationship:

• Correlate mechanical and rheological properties to CMP performance metrics

• Build property-performance models to enable material design targets and process control windows

• Support root-cause investigations for yield, consistency, and customer performance issues using quantitative metrology data

Data &Modeling

• Working with scientistsand engineers in product design and production to design and execute DOE-based studies to isolate key variables affecting mechanical properties

• Develop data analysis workflows and predictive models;Establish databases and visualization tools to enable data-driven decision making across teams

Cross-functional andExternalCollaboration

• Partner with formulation scientists, process engineers, and application teams to translate metrology insights into actionableproductsand process improvementsguidance

• Work with manufacturing teams to transfer lab-scale metrology into production-relevant measurements

• Collaborate with instrument vendors and external partners to evaluate and deploy new characterization capabilities

Communication &TechnicalLeadership

• Document and communicate findings through technical reports, standards, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders

• Contribute to metrology strategy and roadmap, identifying gaps and future capability needs

• Mentor team members on best practices in mechanical testing, rheology, and data interpretation

WhatWeSeek

• PhD in Polymer Science, Materials Scienceor related field required

• 3+ years ofpost-graduate industryexperience in polymerstructuralcharacterization, mechanical testingandrheology; Successfuldevelopedtest methods, measurement systems, or analytical approaches

• Hands-on experience with characterization techniques such asthermal-mechanical testing, rheometer,tensile and fatigue testing,and compression and flexural testingwith demonstrated ability to design and troubleshoot experiments

• Strong understanding of polymer mechanical and viscoelastic behavior, including structure–property relationships and the impact of network formation, crosslinking, and formulation on material performance

• Practical experiencein Design of Experiments (DOE), data analysis, and problem solving

• Experience with thermoset,thermoplastic,elastomeric, or filled polymer systems is preferred

• Knowledge of CMP or semiconductor processes is a plus, but not required

• Self-motivated, collaborative, and able to operate effectively in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment

• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical findings into practical recommendations