Lead R&D Inkjet Engineer

Dandy is transforming the massive and antiquated dental industry—an industry worth over $200B. Backed by some of the world’s leading venture capital firms, we’re on an ambitious mission to simplify and modernize every function of the dental practice through technology. As we expand our reach globally, Dandy is building the operating system for dental offices around the world—empowering clinicians and their teams with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practices, their people, and their patients.

About the Role

As our Inkjet Thought Leader for Dental Applications, you will spearhead the development, optimization, and scaling of inkjet-based systems for dental appliances. You will be responsible for tackling complex challenges such as ink formulation, print process integration, and surface-material interaction. This highly visible role will be instrumental in innovating, developing, and deploying automated inkjet systems to achieve ambitious goals and leading quality standards in the dental industry.

You will serve as the technical authority and strategic driver, collaborating cross-functionally with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and external partners to ensure best-in-class solutions for customers worldwide.

What You'll Do

• Lead R&D projects to design, develop, and optimize inkjet finishing processes for dental appliances.

• Drive the formulation and selection of ceramic-compatible, sinterable inks with controlled rheology and particle-size distribution.

• Evaluate and select suitable inkjet technologies, printhead types, and machine platforms for dental use-cases.

• Address critical challenges such as ink pooling on curved substrates, printhead clogging, and banding artifacts.

• Conduct root-cause analyses and design experiments to resolve print quality issues.
  Develop and validate surface-preparation and pretreatment strategies (e.g., plasma, primers) to improve wetting and adhesion.

• Establish robust process controls and calibration methods to ensure consistency across multiple production lines and machines.

• Collaborate with suppliers to co-develop or specify custom inks meeting stringent dental requirements.

• Define maintenance protocols and ink-handling best practices to minimize downtime and variability.

• Provide thought leadership on integrating inkjet processes into the broader digital dental workflow.

• Train and mentor technical teams in inkjet technology, materials behavior, and production scaling.

• Publish and present internally and externally to establish the company as an innovation leader in this space.

• Set bold targets and drive plans to achieve.

What We're Looking For

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD preferred) in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or related field.

• Deep knowledge of inkjet printing principles (drop formation, printhead design, process parameters).

• Hands-on experience with ink formulation and characterization (rheology, surface tension, particle-size control).

• Background in ceramics processing, sintering behavior, and material interactions.

• Proven track record of solving complex printing issues such as nozzle clogging, pooling, and banding.

• Experience in scaling production processes and maintaining consistency across multiple lines/machines.

• Strong experimental design and root-cause-analysis skills.

• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

• Ability to present to Executive teams in a fast paced environment.

• Constant partnership with multiple functional teams across Dandy and its equipment suppliers.

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally 30% of the time

• High growth startup experience is a plus.

Bonus Points For

• Experience with dental materials and workflows (e.g., zirconia crowns)

• Knowledge of plasma or corona pretreatments for surface modification.

• Supplier collaboration experience for custom ink development.

• Familiarity with GMP, ISO 13485, or other regulated manufacturing environments.

• Prior technical leadership or mentoring experience.

For full-time positions, Dandy offers a wide range of best-in-class, comprehensive, and inclusive benefits tailored to each country where we operate. Our local benefits packages typically include healthcare, dental, mental health support, parental planning resources, retirement savings options, and generous paid time off—ensuring our team members are supported no matter where they live and work.

Dandy is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture that celebrates authenticity to win as one. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Dandy also fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are dedicated to embracing challenges and creating an accessible, inclusive workplace for all individuals. If you require any accommodations for your interview or have any questions beforehand, rest assured that we will do everything we can to meet your needs. Visit Dandy Careers for more!

Compensation Range: $221.1K - $268K