Full-Time

Staff Scientist

Lubrication and Tribology

Posted on 10/30/2025

Arconic

Arconic

1,001-5,000 employees

Manufactures aluminum sheet, plate, extrusions

No salary listed

No H1B Sponsorship

Tarentum, PA, USA

Hybrid

Category
Mechanical Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Minitab
Word/Pages/Docs
Data Analysis
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
PowerPoint/Keynote/Slides
Requirements
  • Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or an Engineering or Science discipline with a focus in Tribology, Lubrication, and/or Surface Science.
  • Minimum 3 years of professional experience working in the areas of tribology (friction, lubrication, and wear) and/or surface technology.
  • Fundamental knowledge of chemistry, particularly as applied to an industrial environment.
  • Understanding of chemical hygiene and safe lab practices.
  • Experience working with tribology equipment and techniques used to evaluate lubricant properties, including viscosity, droplet size analysis, emulsion stability testing, and friction and wear testing (tribometers).
  • Experience working with sensitive instrumentation such as profilometers, AFM, SEM, XPS, FTIR, Auger, etc. and associated software packages.
  • Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, as well as data analysis packages such as JMP, Minitab, or others.
  • Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
  • This position requires access to controlled technology, as defined in the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. §730, et seq.) and/or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Authorizations from the relevant government agency may be required to meet export control compliance requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Propose, develop, and execute technical projects in the area of tribology, with focus on lubricant and surface technology.
  • Solve complex tribology (lubrication and surface) problems and implement solutions in operations.
  • Support operations via application of scientific principles in the areas of lubricant formulation development, application and surface analysis, as applied to metal (aluminum) forming.
  • Design, develop, and implement lab and pilot scale test equipment for evaluation of tribology solutions.
  • Conduct physical and chemical tribology and lubrication tests including sample handling and preparation.
  • Operate surface analysis tools including non-contact profilometers, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and/or Auger electron spectrometer (AES), while supporting equipment calibration, maintenance, and operating procedures.
  • Interpret and evaluate data from testing/experiments to meet customer and project needs.
  • Communicate progress through oral updates as part of technical/project reviews.
  • Complete written reports, presentations, and/or IP documentation (trade secrets and/or patents) as appropriate.
  • Some travel may be required occasionally for this role.
Desired Qualifications
  • Ph.D. Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or an Engineering or Science discipline with a focus in Tribology, Lubrication, and/or Surface Science.
  • 5 or more years of professional experience working in the areas of tribology (friction, lubrication, and wear) and/or surface technology, especially with an industrial focus.
  • Experienced in lubricant chemistry, organic chemistry, and the formulation and characterization of lubricants, particularly as applied to metal forming processes such as casting, rolling, and extrusion.
  • Proficient in operating tribology equipment and utilizing techniques to characterize lubricant properties, including viscosity, droplet size, emulsion stability, and friction and wear behavior.
  • Expertise in working with sensitive instrumentation such as profilometers, AFM, SEM, XPS, FTIR, Auger, Tribometer, etc. and associated software packages.
  • Experience in process/technology development and implementation at the pilot and production scale.
  • Knowledge of engineering principles as they apply to aluminum processing operations, including casting, rolling, extrusion, and related forming techniques.
  • Attention to detail within daily working habits.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills

Arconic produces aluminum sheet, plate, and extrusions for industries such as automotive, aerospace, transportation, industrial, packaging, and building and construction. Its products come from advanced manufacturing processes that convert aluminum into ready-to-use materials and components, which are then integrated into customer parts and systems. The company differentiates itself through a global manufacturing footprint, a broad range of aluminum products, and a close working relationship with clients to ensure they get the right material solutions for complex engineering challenges. Arconic aims to help customers succeed with reliable aluminum solutions while generating value for shareholders.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded

1888

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $175M Davenport casting complex expands capacity, recycling in 2026.
  • $57.5M HPA facility doubles production, ends foreign imports.
  • Chris Ayers' 25-year expertise drives aerospace growth since 2023.

What critics are saying

  • Lafayette lays off 163 workers, cutting production capacity.
  • Howmet captures 20% more Boeing contracts with lower defects.
  • Russian operations face EU-U.S. sanctions, 40% asset loss.

What makes Arconic unique

  • Leads aerospace aluminum sheet and plate markets globally.
  • Pioneered aluminum brazing sheet for thermal management.
  • Developed 7000-series alloys for lighter aircraft structures.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Leave

Company News

Quad Cities Business Journal
Feb 23rd, 2026
Arconic to build $175 million casting complex in Bettendorf

Arconic to build $175 million casting complex in bettendorf. By: QCBJ News Staff | February 23, 2026 Arconic will build a new aluminum casting complex at its Davenport Works facility in Riverdale/Bettendorf, increasing its capacity to process and recycle aluminum into ingots used to make sheet and plate products. CREDIT JOHN SCHULTZ The Arconic Davenport Works plant is getting ready for another big milestone in the Quad Cities. The company will build a new aluminum casting complex at its Davenport Works facility in Riverdale/Bettendorf, increasing its capacity to process and recycle aluminum into ingots used to make sheet and plate products. The $175 million capital investment is expected to create 40 jobs at a qualifying wage of $28.46 per hour, according to information from Arconic. A new saw will improve efficiency and safety. The new facility will significantly expand aluminum ingot casting capacity, increase recycling of scrap aluminum, improve energy efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers while producing high-performance alloys for strategic sectors, Arconic added. On Friday, Feb. 20, the State of Iowa announced that Arconic Davenport Works was selected to receive one of the first Business Incentives for Growth (BIG) awards through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). BIG supports capital investment and quality job creation projects that strengthen Iowa's economic competitiveness. The IEDA approved awards for a total of five companies, which will assist in the creation of 536 jobs and result in $268.2 million in new capital investment for the state. In addition to the Quad Cities, projects are located in Bondurant, Hiawatha, Vinton and Waverly. "BIG further demonstrates Iowa's commitment to pro-growth policies that help businesses thrive," Gov. Kim Reynolds said in the IEDA news release. "This new program encourages companies in key industries to locate, expand, or modernize facilities in Iowa, strengthening our competitive edge and creating opportunities for Iowans. It also builds on the state's strong economic momentum. Since 2024, Iowa has attracted more than $20 billion in new capital investment and our economic indicators are on the rise - state GDP is up 5%, net earnings grew 7.3%, and personal income increased 3.7%." BIG assist in expansions. "These results show that Iowa's partnership approach works and will continue to make Iowa the best place to invest, innovate, and grow," Ms. Reynolds added. In a statement, the authority said: "IEDA values providing assistance to companies such as Arconic as it further strengthens our advanced manufacturing industry and creates jobs. The project benefitted from support from the Iowa Economic Development Authority via the BIG program to help offset the significant costs associated with expanding and modernizing facilities through tax benefits. This program allows companies to invest more confidently in long-term innovation, new technologies, and workforce development - all essential factors in keeping Iowa competitive in the global marketplace. Finally, expansions such as this are a testament to the strong public-private partnerships that make Iowa such a great place to do business." Arconic Davenport Works will host a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday, Feb. 27, for the casting complex known as Pit 10, marking a major milestone in continued investment at the facility. The event will bring together company leadership, labor representatives, project partners, and employees to recognize progress on the project and reaffirm a shared commitment to safety, partnership, and the community. This project has strong support from several Iowa stakeholders, including U.S. Steelworkers Local 105, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Junior Achievement of the Heartland, Living Lands & Waters, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, the Quad City Conservation Alliance, and United Way Quad Cities. The City of Riverdale also has demonstrated its support by passing a resolution endorsing the project. Together, these partners reflect a shared commitment to strengthening the Quad Cities area, Arconic said in a separate news release Friday, Feb. 20. Groundbreaking Friday. This is the latest new development at the local Arconic facility. Last September, Arconic officials held a ceremony to welcome a new $57.5 million High Purity Aluminum (HPA) facility at Arconic. The facility will double the capacity for producing HPA at the local Arconic plant, and eliminate the need for Arconic to import HPA from a foreign smelter. HPA is important in the industry because it offers superior mechanical strength, enhanced corrosion resistance and exceptional conductivity. It is used to make many products, such as armor on light-weight military vehicles, parts of satellites, airplane wings and much more, Arconic officials said. The Arconic Davenport Works plant currently employs about 2,500 workers.

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(Last month, Arconic was acquired by private equity firm Apollo Capital Management Inc.)

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