Lead Composite Materials Specialist

STENA•Middle River, MD

5d•$92,000 - $138,100

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Lead Composite Materials Specialist with strong expertise in fiber testing, data analysis, resin-system integration, and application-driven material evaluation. This role spans the full lifecycle from trial materials to validated structural performance, ensuring that new material types are rigorously tested, understood, and engineered to meet the requirements of high-end composite products. You will lead testing programs, develop performance benchmarks, integrate material systems, and guide selection of material systems tailored for specific components. At ST Engineering MRAS, our employees have amazing opportunities to work on advanced technologies and systems that support thousands of customers and millions of people worldwide every day. From the first flight across the Pacific Ocean to developing highly complex structures for the most popular aircraft in the world, we have come a long way always with a can-do approach to problem solving while delighting customers with our high say-do ratio. We are looking for people with innovative ideas and the drive to help us grow into the future. A pioneer in the production and assembly of complex aerostructures including aircraft and rocket components, engine nacelle systems, thrust reversers and advanced composite products, we apply the latest digital technologies and automation in composite design and manufacturing that are second to none. At ST Engineering MRAS, we are also rapidly augmenting our maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities leveraging the company’s expanded aircraft nacelle portfolio as well as it’s materials and processing expertise.

Requirements

Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Engineering, Composite Materials, or related field with 5 years of relatable experience.
Strong proficiency in mechanical, thermal, chemical, and structural characterization of advanced reinforcement fibers and composite materials.
Familiarity with composite materials interface behavior and performance drivers.
Ability to define material requirements based on final product design criteria and structural performance needs.
Excellent communication skills for delivering technical findings.
This position involves access to export-controlled technology which requires U.S. Person status or government authorization. A ‘U.S. Person,’ as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62, includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence (green card holders), and individuals granted asylum or refugee status in the United States. To be considered for this position, you must either be a U.S. Person or fall within a legally recognized export control exception or authorization. If hired, you will be required to provide valid proof of such status.

Nice To Haves

Highly collaborative, adaptable, and proactive with strong problem-solving ability.
Comfortable working independently in fast-paced, ambiguous R&D environments.
Innovative, curious, and motivated to push boundaries of composite materials science and manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Lead comprehensive testing of trial fiber types, including tensile properties, compression behavior, stiffness profiling, and microstructural analysis.
Develop structure-property relationships to assess suitability for specific product classes.
Establish performance envelopes and ranking methodologies to compare new material candidates.
Translate product-level requirements into clear material performance specifications.
Map test results against target structural applications to determine material suitability and identify development gaps.
Provide recommendations for material or process adjustments based on performance deviations and end-use requirements.
Build and manage datasets linking thermal, chemical, structural, and mechanical characterization results.
Use statistical analysis to extract trends, identify critical parameters, and support material optimization.
Product technical reporting packages for internal decision-making and external stakeholders.