Research and Prototyping Engineer

About Arcturus

Arcturus is building a next-generation wire technology platform that uses carbon nanomaterials to address the performance limits of traditional metals at real operating temperatures. The company’s work is aimed at improving electric motor performance for drones and robotics, advancing heat sink applications, and eventually supporting the broader energy grid. At the center of this effort is a new family of carbon nanomaterial-enhanced metal matrix composites for high-performance conductor use.

Why this role stands out

This is an early-stage opportunity to help create something entirely new. The position is designed for someone who wants to learn quickly, work hands-on, and contribute to the experimental base of a first-of-its-kind materials platform. You will collaborate closely with the technical team across nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, process engineering, and testing.

Role overview

Arcturus is looking for a Research and Prototyping Engineer Co-op to support technical work across experiments, literature review, supplier research, sample preparation, fixture design, testing, and documentation. The scope is intentionally broad. You do not need to be an expert in every area, but you should be curious, structured, practical, and eager to work where materials science, advanced manufacturing, and electrification meet.

Key responsibilities

• Work alongside technical leads and senior engineers on research, prototyping, and experimental support.
• Create and manage a database of carbon nanomaterial and powder suppliers, including vendor details, material specifications, pricing, lead times, and sample availability.
• Help organize a recipe matrix for nanomaterial integration, tracking material type, loading levels, feedstock, process route, and observed performance.
• Assist with nanomaterial handling, sample preparation, recordkeeping, and experiment tracking.
• Maintain chamber bills of materials, equipment lists, vendor quote trackers, and part comparison tables for additive manufacturing work.
• Support fixture and tooling development using CAD, ideally in Onshape or a similar platform.
• Build and maintain a CAD library for fixtures, sample holders, coupons, and test hardware.
• Assist with additive manufacturing trials through preparation, documentation, build tracking, and post-build sample handling.
• Support flash sintering fixture improvements, including CAD revisions, sourcing parts, assembly, testing, and documentation.
• Help develop and refine sample-preparation SOPs for polishing, sectioning, mounting, cleaning, labeling, and traceability.
• Support cylinder coupon workflows, including preparation, processing, inspection, measurement, and documentation.
• Translate experimental methods into clear work instructions and lab notes that can be repeated reliably.
• Assist with internal testing such as Raman spectroscopy, electrical testing, mechanical testing, polishing, microscopy, and related characterization methods.
• Prepare samples and data packages for outside testing, vendor assessment, partner validation, and customer demonstrations.
• Coordinate with external vendors and laboratories on quotes, shipments, testing progress, and result tracking.
• Keep technical records current, including lab notes, test summaries, results, and lessons learned.

Basic qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a BS, MS, or PhD in materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, manufacturing engineering, or a similar technical discipline.
• Strong curiosity and an eagerness to learn across different fields.
• Comfort working hands-on in a laboratory, workshop, or experimental setting.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail, and dependable documentation habits.
• Ability to follow direction, ask thoughtful questions, and move quickly on assigned work.
• Interest in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities may shift often.

Preferred background

• Experience in a research lab, hardware startup, university lab, or advanced manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to carbon nanomaterials, graphene, carbon nanotubes, metallurgy, additive manufacturing, powder processing, or materials characterization.
• Familiarity with Raman spectroscopy, microscopy, SEM/EDS, electrical testing, mechanical testing, polishing, or sample preparation.
• CAD experience, preferably with Onshape or comparable tools.
• Experience with literature reviews, supplier research, technical databases, or experimental documentation.

What you can expect

• Practical experience with novel materials and manufacturing challenges.
• Close collaboration with senior technical leaders across nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, process engineering, and testing.
• Meaningful ownership of technical projects, databases, fixtures, experiments, and documentation.
• Up to one year of co-op experience with direct exposure to an early-stage deep-tech startup.
• If the fit is strong, there is an opportunity to join the team long term.

Application note

Applicants who bring strong learning ability and genuine curiosity are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every listed qualification.