Material Scientist | Internship OR Part-time project

Job type:  Part-time

Team:        R&D

Start:         Q2 2026

Please note that we are only open to candidates already residing in the Netherlands.

ABOUT THE JOB

Qlayers is on a mission to make large industries more sustainable by fundamentally rethinking how coatings are applied. Our technology doesn’t just reduce waste and emissions in the coating process itself; it also unlocks the ability to apply functional microstructures directly onto surfaces, adding performance and sustainability benefits that traditional methods can’t achieve.

As a Material Scientist joining our R&D team, you’ll work at the heart of that mission. You will validate the feasibility of sharkskin microstructured (riblet) coatings. The riblets have already been proven to reduce the drag up to 7% and hence can lead to significant fuel savings and CO2 emission reduction. They are currently produced on our advanced small-scale machine. The next step is to test samples with these riblets to prove their feasibility, durability, and performance under real aerospace conditions. Your work directly paves the way forward on the process to make the aerospace industry more sustainable.

Your key responsibilities:

• Market Standards Research: Explore aerospace market, materials usage, and standards for microstructured coatings, identifying challenges and opportunities for riblet integration.
• Experimental Research & Development: Design and conduct tests on riblet coatings, including sample preparation with Qlayers’ machine, durability validation for real-life conditions.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Record, analyze experimental data, benchmark against aerospace requirements, and prepare technical reports, presentations, and recommendations for R&D and engineering teams.

We are looking for

Professional and personal qualifications and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, or related. We do encourage you to apply even if you are still finalizing your studies;
• Experience with material testing equipment and procedures; knowledge of coatings, polymers, or surface engineering;
• Hands-on experimental skills, analytical mindset, and ability to interpret data;
• Passion for technology/innovation; organized, self-driven, and proactive;
• Excellent communication; comfortable presenting findings across R&D, engineering, and marketing teams;
• English proficiency.

We offer:

• Internship compensation of EUR 350;
• 8% holiday allowance;
• 25 vacation days based on a 40-hour working week calculated pro-rata when working part-time;
• Flexible working hours;
• Healthy lunch;
• Pension plan;
• Being part of a movement to disrupt the traditional coating industry with innovative solutions;
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge robotic coating technology and real aerospace R&D;
• Contribution to aviation sustainability;
• Collaborative, dynamic environment with coaching from experienced engineers.