Powder Control Lead

ADDMAN Engineering LLC•Statesville, NC

just now•Onsite

About The Position

The Powder Control Lead is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the powder reprocessing department, combining hands-on powder handling with ownership of inventory control and lot traceability for the site's metal additive powder supply. This role personally performs sieving, blending, reclaim, and issuing of metal powder to production, while also managing min/max inventory levels, reorder points, and lot records for revolving powder inventory in support of a growing metal additive manufacturing fleet. This role ensures every lot of powder is tracked, qualified, and issued in compliance with AMS7031 and related specifications, and is a key line of defense against cross-contamination or lot mix-ups that can result in unrecoverable scrap. As the powder program grows, this role is expected to lead and train additional powder reprocessing technicians, while remaining hands-on with the physical work of the department. This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident.

Requirements

Operates and maintains powder sieving and reclaim equipment safely and accurately.
Applies inventory control principles (min/max, reorder points, cycle counting) to a physical materials environment.
Maintains precise, audit-ready lot traceability records under real production pressure.
Identifies and escalates material quality deviations before they reach production.
Communicates material availability and constraints clearly to production leadership.
Trains and directs the work of other technicians while remaining hands-on.
High school diploma or equivalent required; technical certification in materials handling, manufacturing, or related field preferred.
3–5+ years of experience in powder metallurgy, materials handling, or additive manufacturing operations.
Demonstrated experience with inventory control practices (min/max, cycle counting) in a manufacturing or warehouse environment.
Experience with lot traceability and documentation in a regulated or aerospace-adjacent manufacturing environment; AMS7031 exposure preferred.
Comfortable performing physical, hands-on materials handling work on a daily basis.
Prior experience training or leading other technicians preferred.
Strong working knowledge of: AMS7031 and related metal powder specifications, powder sieving, blending, and reclaim equipment operation, pot traceability and chain-of-custody documentation practices, and combustible dust and metal powder safety handling requirements.
Experience with ERP/MRP or inventory management systems.
Basic understanding of metal additive manufacturing processes and build requirements.
Strong attention to detail and comfort working under traceability and documentation controls.
Ability to balance hands-on production work with inventory and administrative ownership.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operations of the powder reprocessing department, including sieving, blending, reclaim, and screening of metal powders in accordance with AMS7031 and applicable customer and internal specifications.
Personally perform hands-on powder handling tasks — sieving, blending, reclaim, and material transfer — as a working member of the department, not solely in a supervisory capacity.
Issue qualified powder to build jobs per work order and BOM requirements, verifying lot certification, chemistry, and machine/alloy compatibility prior to release.
Maintain lot traceability and chain-of-custody documentation for all active powder lots across the additive fleet, ensuring full genealogy from receipt through reclaim and reissue.
Enforce strict lot segregation and handling procedures to prevent cross-contamination or lot mix-ups between alloys and lots.
Partner with Material Sciences Engineering on lot qualification, blend ratios, powder reuse strategy, and root cause investigation for any powder-related quality issues.
Maintain documentation and records supporting NADCAP, AMS7031, and customer audits related to powder handling and traceability.
Track and report key departmental metrics, including powder consumption, reclaim yield, and scrap/loss.
Coordinate proactively with Additive Production leadership on powder availability and lead times to prevent build schedule delays.
Train, mentor, and provide day-to-day direction to additional powder reprocessing technicians as the department grows; develop and maintain department SOPs and onboarding materials.
Ensure safe handling and storage of metal powders, including combustible dust controls, grounding/ESD precautions, and proper use of PPE.