Materials Engineer-Research & Development

ELMET TECHNOLOGIES LLC•Lewiston, ME

3d•$90,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

About Elmet Technologies Elmet Technologies is a division of The Elmet Group and a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of precision-engineered refractory metal products serving the aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical, energy, and advanced industrial markets. Since 1929, Elmet has developed world-class expertise in tungsten, molybdenum, and other high-performance materials, producing engineered solutions for some of the world's most demanding applications. Our Lewiston, Maine facility is home to advanced materials research, process development, and manufacturing innovation. We are seeking a Research & Development Materials Engineer who is passionate about metallurgy, materials science, and manufacturing technology to help develop the next generation of products and processes. Position Overview We are seeking a Research & Development (R&D) Materials Engineer to join our Engineering team at our Lewiston, Maine facility. This role supports research and development, manufacturing, new product introduction, and continuous process improvement through technical leadership and hands-on engineering support. The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Product Development teams to optimize manufacturing processes, develop new materials and alloys, troubleshoot technical challenges, and lead projects that improve product performance, manufacturing capability, and operational efficiency. This position offers the opportunity to work with advanced refractory metals and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies supporting aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and other high-performance industries.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field
Manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment required
Strong understanding of metallurgy, materials characterization, and manufacturing process development
Experience with root cause analysis, statistical problem solving, and continuous improvement methodologies
Hands-on engineering mindset with excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills
Must meet ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) employment requirements

Nice To Haves

Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles preferred
Knowledge of powder metallurgy, thermo-mechanical processing, rolling, wire drawing, swaging, or refractory metals is highly desirable
Excellent communication, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Responsibilities

Lead research, development, and continuous improvement initiatives for refractory metal products, materials, and manufacturing processes.
Serve as the technical owner for assigned manufacturing equipment and processes, ensuring consistent performance, product quality, and process capability.
Develop, validate, and optimize manufacturing processes, work instructions, equipment controls, and material specifications.
Design and conduct material testing, analyze results, investigate failures, and recommend process or product improvements using data-driven engineering principles.
Partner with Production, Quality, Planning, and Product Development teams to support manufacturing operations, troubleshoot technical issues, and successfully launch new products.
Lead engineering projects focused on increasing capacity, improving quality, reducing costs, and supporting future business growth through process and capital improvements.
Provide hands-on technical support to manufacturing personnel while maintaining accurate engineering documentation and promoting continuous improvement.