Sr. Director, Integrated Materials and Process Technologies

Job description

Job Purpose As the Sr. Director Integrated Materials and Process Technologies at VulcanForms, you will lead the development and industrialization of the materials and process technologies at the core of our metal additive manufacturing platform. You will own the technical roadmap spanning materials, printing processes, post-processing, and the integration of these technologies across both gantry-based and galvo-based additive manufacturing systems. This role requires a systems-oriented technical leader who can operate from first principles while translating advanced R&D into safe, repeatable, scalable production. You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization, partner closely with teams across engineering and manufacturing, and ensure that VulcanForms continues to advance its core technology while delivering production-ready solutions for customers across aerospace and defense, medical, consumer, and other high-performance industries. Key Responsibilities Lead the development and execution of the technical roadmap for advanced materials and integrated process technologies across VulcanForms’ additive manufacturing platforms. Own delivery against critical materials and process technology milestones, balancing development velocity with safety, regulatory compliance, cost, quality, and manufacturability. Lead the transition of new materials and processes from early-stage development through validation, qualification, and repeatable serial production. Establish the technical reviews, validation gates, documentation standards, process controls, and engineering rigor required to scale new technologies into production. Lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization of engineers, scientists, managers, and senior technical contributors focused on materials and process technology. Build technical and organizational capabilities that support multiple product lines and industry-specific applications with varied performance, regulatory, and production requirements. Partner closely with manufacturing, hardware, software, supply chain, quality, application engineering, and commercial teams to ensure technology development supports production schedules, customer commitments, and long-term business objectives. Drive development of next-generation additive manufacturing applications, printing processes, materials, and post-processing technologies while supporting near-term series production requirements. Contribute to the definition of requirements and specifications for new metal additive manufacturing systems and associated equipment, from powder handling through part finishing. Build scalable engineering and quality frameworks that enable rapid development without compromising technical rigor, process safety, or production reliability. Foster a culture of ownership, urgency, humility, craftsmanship, and first-principles engineering through technical reviews, problem-solving, and day-to-day leadership. Qualifications 8+ years of experience developing and deploying innovative manufacturing processes into production, with significant experience in metal laser powder bed fusion and/or other advanced additive manufacturing technologies. 3+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering, materials, or process development teams within advanced manufacturing environments. Demonstrated success developing, qualifying, and deploying materials and manufacturing processes for certified, regulated, or otherwise demanding serial-production applications. Deep technical expertise in materials science and process engineering combined with strong systems-level understanding of adjacent disciplines such as mechanical systems, controls, thermal management, fluid dynamics, and manufacturing engineering. Proven experience leading and scaling teams of engineers and scientists, including recruiting, developing, and retaining high-performing technical talent and leaders. Demonstrated ability to execute ambitious technical programs on aggressive schedules while maintaining engineering rigor, quality, and safety. Experience taking technologies from early concepts and prototyping through validation, qualification, industrialization, and manufacturing scale-up. Experience developing engineering processes, technical review structures, validation frameworks, documentation standards, and quality systems as technologies mature. Strong business and customer orientation, with the ability to connect engineering decisions to product requirements, cost, manufacturability, deployment, and commercial outcomes. Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, high-velocity environments and drive alignment across technical and non-technical organizations. Hands-on, player-coach leadership style with the technical depth to engage in detailed engineering reviews while setting system-level strategy and organizational direction. Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Advanced degree preferred. VulcanForms offers a competitive salary and equity package. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, VulcanForms provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous paid time off; and a 401(k) plan with company match. The annual base salary range for this position is $227,130.00 to $312,900.00. About Us Founded in 2015 to develop the world’s first industrially scalable laser metal additive manufacturing solution, VulcanForms is reshaping how the world manufactures critical products. We build and operate advanced digital infrastructure that enables innovation, accelerates growth, and supports sustainability across aerospace, defense, medical, and other essential industries. Through our vertically integrated capabilities, including scalable additive manufacturing and precision machining, we deliver true end-to-end production at scale by combining cutting-edge technology with a foundation of proven industrial craftsmanship. Our team brings deep expertise in manufacturing, materials science, software, automation, and operations, united by a shared commitment to quality, curiosity, and accountability. We foster an inclusive culture where people take ownership, solve meaningful problems, and continuously learn, because we believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.