Material & Process Engineer 5
About The Position
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is seeking a Metallurgical Engineer to join its Parts, Materials, and Processes (PMP) Engineering team in Centennial, Colorado. The role supports launch vehicle design, analysis, material selection, process development, and material qualification. It provides metallurgical expertise throughout the hardware development lifecycle, from conceptual design through production and flight qualification. The engineer evaluates how alloy composition, processing history, heat treatment, microstructure, and manufacturing processes affect material and hardware performance. The role also supports development of material and process specifications, design criteria, engineering standards, and supplier technical requirements. It involves leading or supporting qualification of new materials and processes, evaluating technical implications of changes, investigating failures and hardware anomalies, and communicating recommendations to engineering leadership, design teams, and production. The engineer also reviews and approves engineering drawings and mentors less-experienced PMP Engineers. The position is based at ULA in Denver, with 10% travel and relocation potentially available. The standard workweek is 40 hours; most salaried ULA team members work a 9/80 schedule. The role requires U.S. person status under ITAR.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or Metallurgical Engineering.
- At least eight years of experience in metallurgical or materials engineering.
- Demonstrated experience resolving complex material and process anomalies.
- Working knowledge of military and commercial materials and process specifications.
- Ability to multitask and prioritize daily tasks and long-term projects.
- Experience working independently and in a team environment.
- Experience with Microsoft Office.
- Strong technical writing, communication, presentation, and time-management skills.
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing test campaigns to qualify components, materials, and processes.
- Experience managing materials and process-related databases.
- Ability to travel to suppliers, test houses, and other ULA sites.
- Demonstrated experience applying materials engineering to hardware design and development.
- Strong technical knowledge of metallic materials, processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties.
- U.S. person status as defined by ITAR.
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated experience with nickel-based superalloys and their processing, properties, and applications, such as Alloy 718.
- Experience with fatigue, crack growth, fracture toughness, and cryogenic material testing.
- Experience developing or evaluating material allowables.
- Advanced degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
- Experience leading technical projects or mentoring engineers.
Responsibilities
- Support design, analysis, material selection, process development, and material qualification for launch vehicles.
- Provide metallurgical engineering expertise throughout the hardware development lifecycle, from conceptual design through production and flight qualification.
- Evaluate the effects of alloy composition, processing history, heat treatment, microstructure, and manufacturing processes on material and hardware performance.
- Support development of material and process specifications, design criteria, and engineering standards.
- Lead or support development and qualification of new materials, material forming techniques, heat treatment procedures, and manufacturing processes.
- Evaluate technical implications of changes to materials, suppliers, manufacturing processes, and heat treatments.
- Lead metallurgical investigations and failure analyses involving development and flight hardware.
- Apply fracture mechanics, failure analysis, and metallurgical principles to understand hardware anomalies and establish root cause.
- Develop and review material test plans and evaluate results.
- Establish technical requirements for suppliers.
- Mentor less-experienced PMP Engineers.
- Communicate complex metallurgical concepts and technical recommendations to engineering leadership, design teams, and production.
- Review and approve engineering drawings.
- Travel to suppliers, test houses, and other ULA sites as needed.
Benefits
- 401(k) match plus an additional employer contribution.
- Discretionary annual incentive bonus for eligible employees.
- Generous paid time off.
- Flexible work environments.
- Most salaried ULA team members work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
- Relocation may be available.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
