Principal Materials Engineer - Physical Vapor Deposition

We are seeking a visionary and technically distinguished Principal Materials Engineer - PVD to define and lead the long-term technical strategy and advancement of core surface technologies for Oura products. In this principal-level role, you will set the technical direction for physical vapor deposition (PVD/CVD), metal surface treatments, thin films, and next-generation inorganic coating materials, driving breakthroughs in reliability, performance, aesthetics, and user experience across present and future hardware platforms.

What You’ll Do:

• Define and drive the multi-year technology and strategy roadmap for advanced materials, PVD/CVD coatings, surface engineering, and emerging inorganic thin-film technologies across all Oura hardware product lines.
• Serve as the company-wide Subject Matter Expert (SME) in PVD process development, thin-film characterization, and advanced surface finishes, leading exploratory R&D for next-generation products.
• Architect and establish scalable material selection frameworks and bonding/deposition process standards for high-volume manufacturing globally.
• Provide high-level strategic alignment across Product Design (PD), Industrial Design (ID), and Operations to influence early-stage architecture and material choices.
• Define standardized materials testing and coupons to characterize new and existing materials within the area of expertise.
• Work with external vendors and strategic partners to evaluate new materials and coatings, qualify processes, and ensure scalability and reliability.
• Collaborate closely with Reliability and Regulatory teams to ensure material compliance and performance in real-world use conditions.
• Identify and mitigate material risks across the product lifecycle, from prototype to production and field usage.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. 
• 10+ years of industry experience specialized in PVD/CVD coatings, vacuum deposition, and advanced metal surface treatments.
• Track record of technical leadership in taking complex material architectures from fundamental research into high-volume consumer electronics, wearables, or medical devices.
• Strong background in materials characterization, surface chemistry, and process development.
• Strong global connections and experience working with contract manufacturers and materials suppliers across Asia and globally.
  
  

Nice to Have:

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with biocompatibility and regulatory requirements for skin-contact products.
• Background in sustainability-focused material development.

Benefits 

At Oura, we care about you and your well-being. Everyone here at Oura has a ring of their own and we are continually looking to improve employee health.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary and equity packages
• Health, dental, vision insurance, and mental health resources
• An Oura Ring of your own plus employee discounts for friends & family
• 20 days of paid time off plus 13 paid holidays plus 8 days of flexible wellness time off
• Paid sick leave and parental leave

Oura takes a market-based approach to pay, which may vary depending on your location. US locations are categorized into tiers based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. While most offers will be closer to the starting range, successful candidates' pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, internal peer equity, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.

• Region 1: $250,000-295,000

Oura is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals seeking employment at Oura are considered without regard to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Disclaimer: Beware of fake job offers!We’ve been alerted to scammers posing as ŌURA recruiters, especially for remote roles. Please note:

• Our jobs are listed only on the ŌURA Careers page and trusted job boards.
• We will never ask for personal information like ID or payment for equipment upfront.
• Official offers are sent through Docusign after a verbal offer, not via text or email.

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