Chemical Engineer – Concrete Admixtures (R&D / Lab Testing)

Description

Department: R&D / Materials Engineering
Reports To: CEO / COO
Employment Type: Full-Time 

About VeroTouch 

VeroTouch is building the future of housing through construction automation, combining 3D printed concrete construction, advanced concrete chemistry, and high-efficiency building systems. Our mission is to reduce the cost of housing and make it more affordable and accessible. We develop proprietary printable concrete mixes and admixture technologies to deliver reliable, high-performance material behavior across real-world site conditions. 

Role Summary 

VeroTouch is seeking a hands-on Chemical Engineer to support the development and testing of next-generation concrete admixtures and printable cementitious materials. This role is highly practical: you’ll batch and mix experimental formulations, prepare and cure test samples, run mechanical testing (break and bending), record data, and help improve formulations for strength, pumpability, printability, and durability. 

This is an ideal role for a chemical engineer who enjoys lab work, structured experimentation, and translating chemistry into real-world performance. 

Key Responsibilities 

Admixture R&D and Mix Formulation 

• Prepare experimental admixture and cementitious material formulations for lab and field testing 
• Batch, mix, and document test mixes with consistent, repeatable procedures 
• Support the development of admixture systems that improve: 
• Early and ultimate strength 
• Print stability / buildability 
• Open time / set control 
• Pumpability and extrusion consistency 
• Freeze / thaw and outdoor durability (as applicable) 

Sample Prep, Curing, and Mechanical Testing 

• Cast specimens (cylinders, cubes, beams, prisms, etc.) and manage controlled curing conditions 
• Perform compressive strength “break” testing on cured samples 
• Perform flexural/bending testing (modulus of rupture / beam bending) 
• Maintain clean, consistent sample labeling and chain-of-custody for test specimens 
• Capture results in structured templates and communicate findings clearly 

Lab Equipment Use & Documentation 

• Operate standard lab equipment confidently (scales, mixers, moisture analysis, sieves, pH meters, viscometers/rheology tools as available, temperature monitoring, etc.) 
• Maintain lab cleanliness, organization, and safe working conditions 
• Ensure accurate documentation and reproducibility: 
• Batch sheets 
• Test logs 
• Material inventory tracking 
• Basic statistical analysis / comparison of results 

Field Support (As Needed) 

• Support on-site test pours / print trials with formulation adjustments 
• Assist with troubleshooting mix behavior in real site conditions (temperature, humidity, water variability, aggregate moisture) 

What Success Looks Like (First 90 Days) 

• Independently batching and testing repeatable mix designs with clean, consistent documentation 
• Running compressive and bending tests reliably and reporting results clearly 
• Helping accelerate iteration cycles to improve print performance, strength, and stability 
• Building dependable lab workflows that translate to field reliability 

Why Join VeroTouch 

• Work on real chemistry that directly affects real structures—not just bench science 
• Direct line of sight between your testing and full-scale 3D printed construction 
• Fast iteration cycles, high ownership, meaningful innovation 
• Be part of the team building industrialized construction technology from the ground up 

Compensation 

VeroTouch offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract hands-on engineers who want to build real materials technology that goes directly into production and full-scale construction. 

• Base Salary: $90,000 – $115,000 annually, depending on experience, skills, and ability to operate independently in lab + field conditions.  
• Performance Incentives: Opportunity for performance-based bonus and/or milestone-based compensation tied to successful material performance targets and deployment readiness (role-dependent). 

Paid Time Off (PTO) 

We want our team operating at a high level long-term—rest and recovery are part of that. 

• PTO: 10-15 days per year (based on experience/level) 
• Company Holidays: Standard paid holidays 
• Sick Time: Provided in alignment with Colorado requirements and company policy 

Equity Package 

As a technology-driven company, we believe the team building the platform should share in the upside. 

• Employee Equity: Meaningful stock option grant (or equivalent equity units) included as part of compensation 
• Vesting: Standard 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff, then monthly vesting thereafter 
• Equity size is based on experience level, scope of ownership, and expected impact (lab execution vs. formulation leadership + deployment ownership) 

Requirements

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (or closely related field such as Materials Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering with lab-heavy materials experience) 
• Hands-on ability to mix and handle cementitious materials and admixtures (or strong willingness to learn quickly) 
• Ability to perform and document mechanical tests on cured specimens (compressive + bending/flexural) 
• Comfortable with routine lab procedures, precision measurement, and repeatable workflows 
• Strong documentation discipline (lab notebooks, batch sheets, Excel/Google Sheets) 

Preferred Qualifications 

• 1–5 years experience in one or more of the following: 
• Concrete admixture development 
• Cement chemistry / cementitious materials 
• Construction materials testing lab 
• Research & development environments 
• Familiarity with relevant ASTM testing methods (helpful, not required) 
• Experience with rheology and workability measurement methods (slump/flow, viscosity, yield stress concepts) 
• Experience working with accelerators, retarders, superplasticizers, thixotropic agents, silica fume, SCMs, fibers, etc. 

Skills & Traits That Matter 

• Hands-on builder mindset: you’re comfortable mixing, making a mess, cleaning up, and doing it again 
• Attention to detail: consistent batching, accurate records, repeatability 
• Experimental discipline: understands variables, controls, and how to structure trials 
• Problem-solving: enjoys diagnosing why a mix behaved the way it did 
• Safety-minded: PPE, chemical handling, dust control, safe equipment operation 

Physical / Work Environment Requirements 

• Ability to lift and handle material samples and bags (up to ~50 lbs) 
• Comfortable working around cement powders, aggregates, admixtures, and construction environments 
• Standing, bending, moving between lab and test stations regularly 

VeroTouch is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and complying with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If a candidate with a disability requires accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Felix Heeter via email: fheeter@verotouch.com. 

This job description outlines the primary duties and requirements of the role but does not limit the employee to those duties. Certain responsibilities are considered essential functions of the position, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform them. This document describes the minimum requirements for the role and does not create an employment contract. Employment with the company is at-will, meaning either the employee or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.