SENIOR HARDWARE ENGINEER

$70,000 - $90,000/Yr

Brekland Realty Group - New York, NY

Full-time - Entry Level

New York, NY

About the position

Brekland is an early-stage climate resilience agriculture company based in New York that develops innovative systems to help farmers protect their crops from billion-dollar frost events. The company has created a rapid-deployment, biodegradable spray-on insulation system that coats and insulates crops just hours before frost occurs. Brekland's mission is to empower growers with effective tools to safeguard their crops while maintaining low costs, using less water, and burning less fuel. Supported by Activate and part of the Collab SFF, Gigascale Capital, and Safar Partners portfolio, Brekland is at the forefront of sustainable agricultural solutions. We are currently seeking a Research Associate with a background in material science, chemical formulation, or green chemistry to assist in the development of our biodegradable foaming solution. As a member of a small, dedicated team, you will be involved in various aspects of our research and development efforts. This includes supporting the creation of research protocols, executing experiments, contributing to grant writing, and participating in technical advisor meetings. Your contributions will be pivotal in establishing a new category of sustainable green chemistry for agricultural applications. In this role, you will optimize the formulation of our biodegradable solution and enhance its functionality and performance. You will collaborate closely with the Chief Scientific Officer and lead research studies. As you gain experience, you will also work towards designing and executing experiments independently. This position is primarily in-person at our labs located in Brooklyn, NY.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of research protocols for biodegradable foaming solutions.
• Execute experiments related to material science and green chemistry.
• Contribute to grant writing efforts to secure funding for research projects.
• Participate in technical advisor meetings to discuss research progress and findings.
• Optimize the formulation of the biodegradable spray-on insulation system.
• Lead research studies and collaborate with the Chief Scientific Officer.
• Design and execute independent experiments as the role develops.

Requirements

• BS/MS in a related field such as materials science, mechanical or chemical engineering, chemistry, or biochemistry.
• 2+ years of relevant R&D experience in areas like polymer chemistry, protein formulations, foaming systems, chemical formulation, surfactant chemistry, or material science.
• Strong lab skills, including wet lab techniques and documentation.
• Ability to execute research protocols and eventually design studies independently.
• Strong analytical and critical analysis skills for interpreting data and drawing conclusions.

Nice-to-haves

• R&D experience involving independent drafting and execution of study protocols.
• Research experience with natural polymers, foam chemistry, or green surfactants.
• Experience working in agriculture, including research and farm operations.

Benefits

• Health insurance package available for full-time hire.
• Equity options as part of the compensation package.