Our client located in the Seattle metropolitan area (North) is seeking an R&D Materials Engineer to support the research, development, and industrialization of high-performance thermal protection and sealing systems. The successful candidate will lead materials-focused initiatives across the product development lifecycle-ranging from formulation and prototyping to validation and production transfer-ensuring alignment with performance targets, manufacturing capabilities, and customer requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
Conduct research and experimentation on high-performance materials to develop new products and improve existing formulations.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams-including engineering, manufacturing, and quality-to align material innovations with product and process requirements.
Design and execute laboratory-scale trials and material characterizations, interpreting test data to guide formulation and process decisions.
Support the transition of new materials from lab-scale to full-scale production, including pilot trials, process optimization, and documentation.
Evaluate material performance under thermal, mechanical, and chemical stress relevant to application environments.
Develop technical documentation, including test reports, specifications, and material data sheets.
Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies in polymers, composites, and thermal protection systems.
Participate in root cause analysis and materials-related problem-solving on production or customer issues.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related field.
4+ years of experience in R&D or product development involving advanced materials or composites.
Hands-on experience with material formulation, compounding, or processing (e.g., molding, lamination, coating).
Strong understanding of the properties and behaviors of high-temperature or high-performance materials (e.g., silicones, aramids, ceramics).
Familiarity with analytical techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR, mechanical testing, and microscopy.