Director/Senior Manager of Research & Development -- Friction Stir Welding (FSW)

Ascentec Engineering•Tualatin, OR

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Ascentec Engineering is seeking a highly experienced Director or Senior Manager of Research & Development – Friction Stir Welding (FSW) to lead the expansion of the company's advanced joining technology capabilities and establish Ascentec as a premier development and manufacturing partner for aerospace, defense, space, and military applications. This role will be responsible for developing and executing the company's FSW technology roadmap, advancing process capabilities, leading customer-funded and internally funded R&D programs, and creating differentiated manufacturing solutions that support growth in defense markets, including missile systems, munitions, launch systems, hypersonics, aerospace structures, naval systems, next-generation defense platforms, and nuclear plant welding applications. The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise in friction stir welding and solid-state joining technologies with strong leadership, customer engagement, and commercialization experience. This position will play a key role in transforming Ascentec's FSW capability from a manufacturing process into a strategic growth platform.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in: Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering.
Master's degree required for the senior level role.
PhD in a related engineering discipline required for the director level role.
Director Level: 12+ years of engineering and technology development experience.
Director Level: 8+ years working directly with friction stir welding technologies.
Director Level: Experience leading R&D organizations or advanced manufacturing technology groups.
Director Level: Proven history developing new manufacturing technologies from concept through commercialization.
Director Level: Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or space programs.
Senior Manager Level: 8+ years of engineering experience.
Senior Manager Level: 5+ years of direct FSW process development experience.
Senior Manager Level: Experience managing technical teams and customer development programs.
Senior Manager Level: Demonstrated success leading advanced manufacturing projects.
Strong knowledge of: Friction Stir Welding process fundamentals, All joining technologies, Metallurgy and materials science, Aerospace and defense materials, Process qualification methodologies, Weld characterization and testing, Nondestructive evaluation techniques, Design of Experiments (DOE), Statistical analysis and process control, Manufacturing automation, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) concepts, Product development lifecycle management.
Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Applicant must be able to pass a drug screen and criminal background check prior to employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with: Missile and munitions manufacturing, Rocket motor hardware, Aerospace structures, Cryogenic tanks and pressure vessels, Space launch systems, Hypersonic vehicle components, Naval systems, Defense manufacturing environments.
Knowledge of: AWS standards, ASME standards, AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, DFARS, Government R&D contracting.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year FSW technology roadmap aligned with corporate growth objectives.
Identify emerging technologies and applications that can create competitive advantages.
Lead development of advanced FSW processes for: Aluminum alloys, Copper alloys, Dissimilar material joining, High-strength aerospace materials, Thick-section structural components.
Evaluate and implement adjacent technologies including: Friction stir processing, Refill friction stir spot welding, Friction stir additive manufacturing, Hybrid manufacturing processes, Automation and robotic FSW systems.
Lead internal and customer-funded R&D initiatives.
Establish and manage FSW development laboratories and testing capabilities.
Direct process qualification and validation efforts.
Develop experimental plans, process characterization methodologies, and statistical process controls.
Lead Design of Experiments (DOE) programs to optimize process performance.
Manage technology maturation from concept through production implementation.
Identify and pursue government-funded R&D opportunities.
Support proposal development for: Department of Defense, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, DARPA, NASA, Department of Energy.
Build relationships with government laboratories and defense innovation organizations.
Represent Ascentec in technical reviews and customer engagements.
Develop new FSW applications for defense and aerospace customers.
Establish qualification methodologies and acceptance criteria.
Drive development of proprietary tooling, fixtures, and process technologies.
Work with engineering teams to transition R&D projects into production.
Support customer qualification and first article programs.
Serve as the technical face of Ascentec's FSW capabilities.
Engage directly with customer engineering organizations.
Support business development efforts through technical presentations and demonstrations.
Participate in industry conferences and technical forums.
Publish technical papers and represent Ascentec in industry working groups where appropriate.
Build and lead a high-performance FSW R&D organization.
Recruit, mentor, and develop engineers and technical specialists.
Establish laboratory safety and engineering standards.
Manage budgets, capital investments, and resource planning.
Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, operations, and business development teams.