Materials Manufacturing Engineer III

Textron•Wilmington, MA

About The Position

Textron Systems in Wilmington, Massachusetts, is seeking a hands-on composite materials professional to support the development of advanced materials, thermal protection systems, and high-temperature composite structures for hypersonic and reentry programs. The role combines engineering and manufacturing, with substantial work on the shop floor and in the lab to execute builds, refine processes, and conduct material testing. The engineer will translate design requirements into repeatable manufacturing methods and troubleshoot defects while improving quality, yield, and throughput in a fast-paced, low-volume/high-mix environment. The position works closely with design engineering and manufacturing teams on the development and production of carbon/carbon, 3D-woven, laminated, and resin-infused composite materials. It involves planning and executing fabrication, developing and optimizing process parameters, supporting tooling, validating processes, conducting and analyzing tests, qualifying processes and first articles, investigating defects, collaborating on material selection and design-for-manufacturing considerations, working with suppliers, ensuring standards compliance, and assessing emerging manufacturing technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
At least 5 years of experience in composites or materials-processing manufacturing or an R&D environment.
U.S. citizenship required.
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to justify analytical results and influence design decisions.
Demonstrated problem-solving ability, adaptability, and comfort working in fast-paced prototype and production environments.
Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams.
Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to interpret technical drawings, model-based definition files, BOMs, sketches, CAD models, specifications, prototypes, and non-standard requirements.

Nice To Haves

Preferred degree in Materials Science Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
Experience with 3D-woven or other complex preform architectures.
Knowledge of carbon/carbon, ceramic matrix composites, polymer matrix composites, or other high-temperature materials.
Experience with thermal protection systems, high-temperature testing, ablation behavior, or densification processes.
Familiarity with aerospace qualification standards such as CMH-17, ASTM, AMS, and MIL specifications.
Experience with mechanical testing methods such as tensile, compression, ILSS, and fatigue testing.
Knowledge of NDI/NDT methods such as ultrasonic inspection and CT scanning.
Experience scaling composite manufacturing processes from development to production.
Familiarity with statistical analysis and material acceptability development.
Knowledge of Design for X (including manufacturing, assembly, and cost).
Knowledge of GD&T and proper tolerancing in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems (such as Oracle), PLM systems (such as Matrix), and MES systems (such as Solumina), or equivalents.
Experience with CAD software such as UG NX.

Responsibilities

Translate material and design requirements into robust manufacturing processes and clear work instructions with multidisciplinary teams.
Plan and execute material fabrication, including layup, preforming, infusion (VARTM/RTM), and curing.
Develop and optimize process parameters, including resin systems, flow media, vacuum strategy, and cure cycles.
Design and support tooling for complex preforms and infusion setups.
Perform hands-on builds, trials, and process validation on the shop floor.
Develop and execute mechanical, thermal, and environmental test plans.
Analyze test data to characterize material properties and drive continuous process improvements.
Support process qualification and first-article activities.
Investigate defects such as voids, dry spots, and delamination, and implement root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
Collaborate with design engineering on material selection, laminate stack-ups, and DFM/DFA considerations.
Interface with suppliers for fibers, resins, and preforms, and support material down-selection and qualification.
Ensure compliance with aerospace and defense standards and specifications.
Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies and conduct cost/benefit assessments for potential adoption.