Soft Matter Physicist – Constitutive, Friction & Transduction Modeling for Tactile Sensors

This is a startup Contract Role in Palo Alto, CA with opportunity for conversion to Full-Time + Equity.

Summary

We are looking for an engineer with a strong physics background to help us model the 'squishiness' of our soft tactile sensors. Our sensors use silicone elastomers to feel the world—much like a human fingertip—but that flexibility introduces complex behaviors like hysteresis and slip. You will work with real data from our automated test rig to build mathematical models that explain these behaviors, helping us turn raw deformation signals into precise, real-time sensing data.

Key Objective

Select and justify hyperelastic/viscoelastic models for elastomeric sensor layers under cyclic loading.

Model hysteresis, creep, and stress relaxation, including strategies for numerical compensation.

Define contact and friction models (normal force vs indentation, stick–slip, velocity and load dependence).

Incorporate temperature and rate dependence of stiffness and friction into the models.

Propose signal transduction models mapping deformation fields to raw sensor outputs for common modalities (e.g. Hall-effect arrays, optical/vision-based tactile skins).

Define parameter fitting procedures using force–displacement–time data (which parts of curves to use, cost functions, validation checks).

Deliver computationally usable formulations plus a Python/Jupyter Notebook that demonstrates the models on sample data.

Main Deliverables

Technical modeling specification covering:

Constitutive laws, friction/contact laws, and transduction relationships.

Assumptions, variable definitions, units, parameter ranges, and example fits.

Python/Jupyter Notebook that:

Takes sample strain/deformation and temperature/rate) histories as input.

Outputs predicted stress/force trajectories and example sensor signal trajectories.

Is numerically stable and easy to translate into production code.

Requirements

PhD in a relevant field (Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or similar) or 3+ years of related industry experience.

Strong background in viscoelasticity and hyperelasticity of elastomers.

Experience with contact mechanics and tribology (friction, stick–slip).

Comfortable producing closed-form/algorithmic models for real-time computation (Python/C++), not just FEA.

Able to document models clearly and provide a clean, well-commented Python notebook.