Senior Materials Specialist - Tanning and Finishing

MycoWorks is hiring a Senior Materials Specialist in Barcelona, Spain, to support the tanning and finishing processes of Fine Mycelium™ materials. The role involves collaborating with internal teams and tannery partners to enhance material performance and quality. Candidates should have a Master's or PhD in a relevant field and over 7 years of experience in materials development. Occasional travel to partner sites is required.
We’re on a journey to Grow the Future of Materials. How? By unlocking the unique properties of mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. Our patented technology, Fine Mycelium™, unleashes a new class of materials crafted from nature, engineered for performance, and built for a resilient future. We’re seeking passionate learners to join us in pioneering a materials revolution and creating an epic place to work.

MycoWorks offers competitive equity and benefits programs to support the health, well-being, and financial empowerment of all our employees. We root our relationships with our partners and one another in our core values: Be Mycelial, Cultivate Quality, and Grow the Future, and we're committed to building a diverse team and an inclusive environment where all employees belong. Women, gender expansive individuals, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

In our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, we recognize the importance of accommodating individual needs. If you require any specific accommodations during the application or interview process, please feel free to let us know. We are dedicated to facilitating a comfortable and accessible experience for all candidates, and will work with you to ensure your needs are met.