Connecting...

Material Scientist, National Program Leader

Job title: Material Scientist, National Program Leader
Location: Singapore
Specialisation: Engineering & Manufacturing
Salary: SGD 500,000 - 1,000,000 (Annual)
Reference: PR/096778
Job published: March 11, 2026 14:51
Work Arrangement: Hybrid

The Lead for Project MARVEL

We are looking for a leader for a national program in an AI for Materials initiative known as MARVEL. MARVEL is short for Materials Accelerator for Research, Venture and Enterprise Launchpad. The candidate should be a capable tech leader within depth knowledge of AI and the intersection with materials science. The candidate should have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to interact with academics, industry and government agencies. 

 

The Mission

MARVEL (Materials Accelerator for Research, Venture and Enterprise Launchpad) is Singapore’s national engine for fast-track materials discovery. Its goal is to move science from the lab to the market at speeds never seen before. We use AI and automation to find, test, and scale new materials in months rather than years.

Technical Leadership

The Lead must be more than a manager; they must be a practitioner at the intersection of bits and atoms. You will:

  • Drive AI Integration: Oversee the use of machine learning and generative models to predict material properties.
  • Build Closed-Loop Labs: Direct the setup of automated hardware where AI "thinks" and robots "do," creating a continuous cycle of discovery.
  • Ensure Data Quality: Manage the vast data flows needed to train reliable models for polymers, metals, and electronics.

The Three Pillars of MARVEL

The Lead must bridge three distinct worlds:

  • Research (The Lab): Work with academics to ensure our science remains world-class and pushes the limits of what is possible.
  • Venture (The Startup): Help founders turn new materials into viable companies. You will identify which breakthroughs have the "legs" to become commercial products.
  • Enterprise (The Industry): Help established firms adopt AI-driven discovery to solve their toughest manufacturing and sustainability problems.

 

The Ideal Candidate

We need a leader who can speak three languages fluently:

  1. The Language of Science: You understand the physics and chemistry of materials.
  2. The Language of Code: You understand how algorithms and data architectures solve physical problems.
  3. The Language of Strategy: You can talk to government agencies about national goals and to CEOs about the bottom line.

 

Why this Matters

The world is in a race for better batteries, cleaner energy, and faster chips. MARVEL is Singapore’s entry into that race. As the Lead, you will not just watch the future happen; you will build the platform that creates it.

 

Catherine Qu 
JAC Recruitment Pte Ltd 
EA Personnel: R22104823 
EA Personnel Name: QU QIUSHI

 

#LI-JACSG 
#countrysingapore