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Senior Materials & Process Engineer, Rocket Motor Systems (Polymeric Ablatives)

Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00)💼 Full-time💰 $126,000–$126,000🗓 2026-08-25 → 2026-09-29

Core

Establish M&P infrastructure for solid rocket motor systems, transforming tribal knowledge into configuration-controlled engineering documentation for propellants, cases, and thermal protection systems.

Role type

Senior IC Materials & Process Engineer (Solid Rocket Motors)

Builds

Production-ready material specifications, process specifications, and acceptance test procedures for solid rocket motor systems.

Domain

Defense / Aerospace Propulsion

Required skills

Material specification development, Process specification development, Standard acceptance test procedure creation, Materials characterization (mechanical, thermal, rheology), Root cause analysis, Technical writing, Design allowables development (CMH-17, JANNAF), Supplier qualification management

Preferred skills

Solid rocket motor systems experience, Propellant processing, Composite fabrication, Ablative manufacturing, NDI methods, TPS component characterization, MIL-STD/AIAA standards knowledge

Technologies

FTIR, Raman, X-ray, CT scan, Ultrasonic, Radiography, CMH-17, JANNAF, MIL-HDBK-17

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain material specifications for raw materials and assemblies; Create process specifications for manufacturing operations; Develop standard acceptance test procedures and NDI technique sheets; Review and standardize existing work instructions into formal specifications; Serve as subject matter expert for polymeric materials selection and qualification; Lead materials characterization programs and develop design allowables; Provide expertise to Design and Manufacturing teams; Drive material and process qualifications from development to production readiness; Lead failure investigations and root cause analyses; Interface with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams; Drive cost reduction and cycle time improvement initiatives; Mentor junior engineers and prepare technical documentation.

Seniority

Senior, hands-on IC

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