Principal Materials & Process Specialist (Hybrid - Aguadilla, PR)

RTX•Aguadilla, PR

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Principal Materials & Process Specialist to serve as a technical leader and subject matter expert (SME) in supplier manufacturing compliance, special processes, advanced materials evaluations, and REACH activities. This position requires broad expertise across metallurgy, chemical/materials science, and manufacturing processes, with the ability to assess both metallurgical and chemical process-related risks while providing support across the Materials team. The Principal Materials & Process Specialist will lead complex supplier reviews, evaluate critical manufacturing and chemical/thermal processes, support compliance with REACH and other regulatory frameworks, and provide technical guidance to internal teams, leadership, and customers. The role will also define best practices for materials process reviews, mentor less experienced engineers, and may support other activities depending on business needs. This position may require up to 10% travel. This position will sit at our Aguadilla, PR location. You must be residing in Puerto Rico at the time of starting employment. Relocation is not offered. This role is categorized as hybrid, with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote following the schedule assigned by the Manager.

Requirements

Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
Demonstrated professional experience communicating in English (verbal and written).
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
Expertise in metallurgy, chemical/materials processing, or manufacturing of metallic components within aerospace or similarly regulated industries.
Strong knowledge of forging, heat treatment, coatings, plating, chemical processing, and related special processes.
Understanding of chemical reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, or materials process modeling (academic or industry-based experience is acceptable).
Familiarity with AMS/ASTM standards, NADCAP requirements, AS9100, and aerospace drawing/specification interpretation.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical documentation, and process certifications for compliance with specifications.
Knowledge of materials testing methods, including hardness testing, microstructure evaluation, tensile testing, metallography, corrosion, and surface chemistry assessments.
Experience supporting regulatory compliance, such as REACH or related environmental and materials regulations.
Strong technical judgment and decision-making skills to assess product impact and define best practices.
Demonstrated experience communicating complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
High proficiency in ERP/PLM systems such as SAP and Team Center.
Advanced knowledge of AMS/ASTM specifications and aerospace materials.
Hands-on experience with special processes, including heat treating, plating, chemical conversion, thermal spray, or shot peening.
Experience with modeling tools such as MATLAB or equivalent platforms.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive reviews of supplier processes, including forging, machining, heat treatment, surface finishing/plating, chemical processing, coating operations, and material certifications.
Evaluate detailed materials and metallurgical data, such as hardness, tensile properties, chemical composition, grain flow, microstructures, coating quality, and surface chemistry for compliance with requirements.
Assess supplier special processes using digital records, process data, chemical process parameters, and thermal/chemical modeling outputs.
Apply engineering fundamentals and chemical reaction or thermodynamic modeling to evaluate process capability and compliance risks.
Provide support for REACH compliance and other regulatory activities, including evaluating materials and processes to ensure conformity with environmental and safety standards.
Summarize findings and prepare technical reports and presentations for leadership and customer-facing engagements.
Provide technical guidance to suppliers to resolve compliance gaps and recommend process and documentation improvements.
Collaborate with design, quality, and materials engineering teams to interpret specifications, align process requirements, and resolve technical questions.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve internal standards, review methodologies, and process compliance tools.
Mentor and support engineers performing MPS reviews with leadership and deep subject matter expertise.