Sr. Materials Engineer, R&D Core Materials

Description

Align Technology, Inc. is seeking a Senior Materials Engineer with deep expertise in polymer science, sustainability, material compatibility, and medical device packaging to lead complex, cross-functional projects spanning orthodontic accessory and ancillary product compatibility, recycled materials innovation, and advanced packaging development.

This role serves as a technical leader and subject-matter expert (SME) who defines testing strategy, establishes technical direction, and partners across the organization to translate material innovations into scalable, compliant, and sustainable product solutions.

You will collaborate across R&D, eCommerce, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Quality, Legal, and Supply Chain to deliver robust material solutions that enable Align’s growth and sustainability goals.

Role expectations

• Lead and own material selections and studies for orthodontic accessory and ancillary products to ensure safety, functionality with Invisalign orthodontic appliances, and packaging.
• Drive the development of circular-material technologies by transforming recycled polymers into high-performance, qualified applications.
• Design, evaluate, and optimize medical and consumer packaging for performance, manufacturability, and sustainability in accordance with ISO 11607 and ASTM / ISTA standards.
• Design and perform standard and customized polymer characterization (thermal, mechanical, rheological, spectroscopic) and long-term reliability evaluations.
• Define and approve material specifications; author validation protocols and reports documentation per Design Control and QMS requirements.
• Lead collaboration with internal teams and external partners to evaluate, qualify, and scale sustainable materials and packaging solutions globally.
• Support chemical-compliance and biocompatibility evaluations to ensure regulatory readiness and provide data for product filings.
• Translate complex test results into clear technical reports, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations that guide product and business decisions.
• Mentor and coach engineers and technicians to strengthen experimental design, data integrity, and sustainability best practices across the materials function.

What we're looking for

Complementary skills

Pay Transparency

If provided, base salary or wage rate ranges are the range in which Align reasonably expects to set a candidate’s pay for the posted position. Actual placement depends on the individual skills and experience level of a candidate plus the total compensation and equity across team members. For other locations outside of the primary location, the base salary range will be adjusted geographically.

For Field Sales roles, the salary listed is the base pay only and does not include the applicable incentive compensation plan. A cost of living adjustment may be added to base pay for higher cost areas in the U.S.

Our internship hourly rates are a standard pay determined based on the position and your location, year in school, degree, and experience.

General Description of All Benefits

We are pleased to provide a general description of the benefits Align offers to full-time employees in this position.

Family Benefits.  Align offers employees and their eligible dependents medical (with a Health Savings Account option for some plan offerings),  dental, and vision in accordance with those plans.  Align also offers to employees :

Employee benefits.  Align offers its employees :

To the extent applicable state or local law offers more generous benefits, Align complies with any such law.

Applicant Privacy Policy :

Review our Applicant Privacy Policy   for additional information.

Equal Opportunity Statement :

Align Technology is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all our practices, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected category. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are applying, and employment eligibility will be verified as a condition of hire.

Your growth and well-being :

At Align, every smile matters. We’re committed to helping you thrive by supporting the health, growth, and well-being of our team members through a variety of tools and programs. While specific offerings may vary by location and role, Align employees can typically expect :

Country and / or role specific details will be shared with you by your recruiter during the interview process.

Discover Align :

We are a global community of game-changers and smart team players, united by our belief in the power of a smile. Our dynamic team of exceptional employees is dedicated to transforming the industry and creating extraordinary outcomes every day.

Align’s core values of agility, customer, and accountability are more than words to work by, they are words we live by. The actions we take every day speak to who we are as a company and our focus on being truly impactful. We celebrate our differences, and the many ways we support one another— ultimately creating a more inclusive organization and world as we continue transforming smiles and changing lives.

We foster a culture where thinking differently and seeking new experiences are not just encouraged but celebrated. With the Align Mindset, we empower each other, ensuring every voice is heard and valued in an inclusive environment that inspires creativity and collaboration.

At Align, we believe in the power of a smile, and we know that every smile is as unique as our employees. As we grow, we are committed to building a workforce rich in diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, fostering a culture of open-mindedness and compassion. We live our company values by promoting healthy people and healthy communities, all with the intent of changing millions of lives, one unique smile at a time.

As part of our commitment to innovation, Align Technology includes exocad and Cubicure, companies that enhance our offerings and extend our impact to industry transformation.

Eager to learn how we embrace our global differences and nurture employee well-being?

Explore Align's culture here!

Want to discover more about exocad and Cubicure ? Click on their names for additional information.