Interfacial Engineer (Surface Engineering)

About the Role

We’re building a novel actuator platform that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in robotics. The core technology depends on precisely engineered fluid–solid interfaces operating under demanding conditions.

We’re looking for a hands-on Interfacial Engineer to own the materials development, surface engineering, and fluid integration for this platform. As a founding team member, you will take ownership of the chemical and physical architecture that allows our systems to operate with high efficiency and durability.

This is a high-impact early hire role—you’ll work from first principles across interfacial chemistry, thin-film processing, and fluid handling to directly shape the core technology.

What You’ll Do

• Engineer solid–fluid interfaces for controlled wetting behavior, surface energy, and long-term stability in confined geometries.

• Develop and iterate on surface treatments and coatings to achieve target interfacial properties (e.g., adhesion, hysteresis, dielectric integrity).

• Design chemical strategies to manage oxidation and degradation in high-performance fluid systems.

• Lead characterization efforts: interfacial tension, surface charge, dielectric breakdown, contact angle metrology, and thin-film quality using spectroscopic and microscopic tools.

• Optimize compatibility between conductive and insulating phases for multi-phase fluid systems.

• Contribute to early manufacturing process development as the technology moves from lab to production.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in Surface Science, Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field with a focus on liquid–solid interfaces.

• Strong understanding of capillary forces, wetting phenomena, and microfluidics.

• Practical experience with thin-film coatings, surface functionalization, or dielectric materials.

• Ability to work from first principles to diagnose and solve interfacial failure modes (stiction, delamination, breakdown).

• Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment where you define the problems as much as you solve them.

What We Offer

• A key role on the team—shape the core technology from day one.

• Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and flexible health coverage.

• 401(k), daily lunch, and a dog-friendly office in Boulder.

• Work alongside a collaborative team of MEMS and robotics engineers on one of the most ambitious hardware challenges in the industry.

  Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience