Materials & Process Engineer - Advanced Composites Hawthorne, California | On-site Join a well-funded, seed-stage advanced manufacturing company developing high-performance composite hardware for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications. The company has strong momentum across both commercial programs and the Department of War, with active contracts and plans to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint. As a Materials & Process Engineer, you will work across material characterization, process development, testing, failure analysis, and production scale-up. You will help connect material chemistry and processing conditions to final part performance, then translate those findings into repeatable manufacturing processes. We are an early-stage space and defense manufacturing company developing new methods for producing lightweight, high-performance composite hardware at scale. With strong customer traction, active programs, and significant recent funding, the team is expanding quickly across engineering and manufacturing.
Job Duties:- Develop and optimize composite materials and manufacturing processes
- Connect material chemistry, processing conditions, and final part performance
- Run and interpret material characterization including TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, rheology, and related methods
- Design and execute mechanical testing and process development campaigns
- Evaluate new resin systems, fibers, adhesives, and other composite materials
- Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations
- Translate testing results into manufacturing process improvements
- Scale processes from development and pilot work into production
- Develop SOPs, test procedures, material specifications, and process documentation
- Work closely with manufacturing, quality, mechanical engineering, and supply chain teams
- Partner with suppliers to source, evaluate, and qualify new materials
- Support manufacturing troubleshooting and continuous process improvement
- Help build the materials and process capabilities needed as production scales
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field 3+ years of relevant industry experience
- Strong understanding of composite materials and process-structure-property relationships
- Hands-on experience with fiber-reinforced composites or polymer-based materials
- Experience with material characterization techniques such as TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, or rheology
- Experience with mechanical coupon testing or material qualification
- Experience with failure analysis and root cause investigation
- Comfortable working hands-on in both laboratory and manufacturing environments
- Strong technical problem-solving and communication skills
- Must meet U.S. Person requirements under applicable export control regulations
- Ability to work on-site in El Segundo five days per week
- Preferred Experience
- Advanced degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Composites, or a related field 5+ years of experience for Senior-level candidates
- Experience with composite manufacturing processes
- Experience with chopped and continuous fiber materials
- Knowledge of resin systems including epoxy, BMI, cyanate ester, vinyl ester, or phenolics
- Experience with structural adhesives and bonding
- Experience scaling processes from lab or pilot environments into production
- Experience with Design of Experiments or statistical process optimization
- Familiarity with AS9100, NADCAP, MIL-SPEC, or similar aerospace and defense standards
- Aerospace, defense, propulsion, or airframe experience
- Previous experience in a startup or small technical team
Why Join Us:- Join a well-capitalized seed-stage company with strong commercial and Department of War momentum
- Work on advanced composite technology moving rapidly into production
- Take significant ownership over materials and manufacturing process development
- Help build the Materials & Process function as the company scales
- Opportunity for growth into technical leadership and management
- Work across development, manufacturing, testing, and production
- Join the team ahead of a major facility and manufacturing expansion
- Equity participation
- Company-provided lunches 401(k) with employer matching
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays
- Life and disability insurance$110,000 - $150,000
