Inkjet Thought Leader for Dental Applications

Salary: $221.1K - $268K Location Type: Remote Employment Type: FullTime

Company Overview

Dandy is revolutionizing the dental industry, a sector valued at over $200 billion. Supported by prominent venture capital firms, our mission is to simplify and modernize every aspect of dental practice through technology. As we expand globally, Dandy is building the operating system for dental offices worldwide, equipping clinicians and their teams with technology, innovation, and exceptional support to enhance their practices, personnel, and patients.

About the Role

As our Inkjet Thought Leader for Dental Applications, you will be at the forefront of developing, optimizing, and scaling inkjet-based systems for dental appliances. You will tackle intricate challenges including ink formulation, print process integration, and the interaction between surfaces and materials. This critical role is essential for innovating, developing, and deploying automated inkjet systems to meet ambitious goals and set new quality standards in the dental industry.

You will serve as the primary technical authority and strategic driver, collaborating across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and with external partners to deliver best-in-class solutions for a global customer base.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D projects focused on designing, developing, and optimizing 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 appropriate inkjet technologies, printhead types, and machine platforms for dental applications.
• Address critical issues such as ink pooling on curved substrates, printhead clogging, and banding artifacts.
• Conduct root-cause analyses and design experiments to resolve print quality challenges.
• Develop and validate surface preparation and pretreatment strategies (e.g., plasma, primers) to enhance wetting and adhesion.
• Establish robust process controls and calibration methods to ensure consistency across multiple production lines and machines.
• Collaborate with suppliers for the co-development or specification of 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 on inkjet technology, material behavior, and production scaling.
• Publish and present findings internally and externally to position the company as an innovation leader in the field.
• Set ambitious targets and develop plans to achieve them.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD preferred) in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or a related field.
• Deep understanding of inkjet printing principles, including drop formation, printhead design, and process parameters.
• Hands-on experience with ink formulation and characterization, including rheology, surface tension, and particle-size control.
• Background in ceramics processing, sintering behavior, and material interactions.
• Proven ability to solve complex printing issues such as nozzle clogging, pooling, and banding.
• Experience in scaling production processes and maintaining consistency across multiple lines/machines.
• Strong skills in experimental design and root-cause analysis.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Capability to present to executive teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally up to 30% of the time.
• Experience in a high-growth startup environment 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.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers for custom ink development.
• Familiarity with GMP, ISO 13485, or other relevant regulatory standards.