Senior Materials Specialist - Tanning and Finishing

Job Summary

MycoWorks is seeking a Senior Materials Specialist to support the downstream product development team in Spain. This role will focus on the tanning and finishing processes that define the performance, quality, and aesthetics of Fine Mycelium™ materials. As a senior technical individual contributor, this role will collaborate closely with internal teams and tannery partners to validate process improvements, solve material challenges, and ensure that development efforts meet performance and customer expectations.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in materials science, surface engineering, or leather finishing, and enjoys applying deep technical expertise to real-world manufacturing and product challenges.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical expertise on tanning, finishing, and surface treatment processes for Fine Mycelium™ materials.
• Support experimental development, testing, and validation of downstream processes internally and with partner tanneries.
• Translate technical requirements from commercial and upstream development teams into clear experimental plans.
• Partner with Quality, Process Development, and Commercial teams to resolve technical issues affecting material performance.
• Analyze and synthesize experimental results into actionable recommendations for process adjustments or improvements.
• Help prioritize technical development initiatives based on business needs, customer feedback, and process feasibility.
• Participate in technical reviews with external tannery partners, identifying gaps and proposing solutions.
• Maintain documentation of experiments, process changes, and technical evaluations.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, materials innovations, and best practices in tanning, finishing, and surface modification.
• Travel occasionally to partner sites and internal production facilities (up to 20-30%). 

Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Leather Technology, or a related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in materials development, surface finishing, tanning, or polymer coatings.
• Strong understanding of material behavior during chemical and mechanical finishing processes.
• Experience working with leather, leather alternatives, or flexible composites is highly desirable.
• Proficient in experimental design, technical validation, and performance analysis.
• Comfortable working in cross-functional environments and with external manufacturing partners.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Fluent in English; Spanish proficiency strongly preferred; French is a plus.