Senior Managing Scientist

Overview

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve its clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges. Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we have connected lessons from past failures with tomorrow’s solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of users, and address sustainability challenges.

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive industry experience. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to a diverse pool of ideas, talents and backgrounds that drives collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights, while growing your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning.

• 950+ Consultants
• 640+ Ph.D.s
• 90+ Disciplines
• 30+ Offices globally

We are seeking an experienced consultant for a Senior Managing Scientist position in our Polymers & Chemistry Practice. This position is open across all U.S. office locations. In this role you will lead interdisciplinary project teams that investigate and solve complex problems related to the specification, development, testing, and end‑use performance of polymeric materials used in life sciences, consumer products, building and construction applications, infrastructure systems, and automotive components.

Candidates must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to convey scientific concepts credibly to diverse audiences. The position requires some travel and involves collaborating with scientists and engineers from other Exponent offices and practices. The successful candidate will have at least 5‑10 years of scientific or engineering consulting experience with an existing client base. The ideal candidate will cultivate relationships with existing clients, identify new business opportunities, and contribute to the continued growth of the Polymers & Chemistry Practice.

• Leverage deep knowledge in polymer science to address a wide range of complex challenges across diverse client sectors, delivering scientifically rigorous and impactful solutions.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new client engagements by understanding emerging needs and building long‑term partnerships.
• Maintain and grow trusted relationships with existing clients by consistently delivering high‑quality work, anticipating future needs, and serving as a strategic advisor.
• Build, manage, and empower multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and scientific integrity.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities to technical staff, supporting their growth into future leaders and experts.
• Ensure successful project execution through effective planning, resource allocation, and budget management, while maintaining high standards of quality and timeliness.
• Offer high‑level scientific and strategic advice to both internal stakeholders and external clients, contributing to the firm’s thought leadership and client impact.
• Enhance the firm’s visibility and credibility by publishing in peer‑reviewed journals, presenting at industry conferences, leading seminars, and participating in expert advisory or technical committees.
• Inspect, test and analyze various polymeric materials to assess their specifications and/or reliability in a wide range of applications.
• Perform root‑cause investigations on failing or underperforming materials/components by scientifically examining the development, manufacturing or end‑use environment of products specified for use in construction, medical device, consumer electronics, and automotive industries.
• Analyze information and convey technical conclusions to individuals in engineering, business, law, and industry, and communicate testing rationale in the context of product development, defect claims, and intellectual property…