R&D Engineer – Composite Winding Process (all genders)

Blackwave; Taufkirchen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Autonomy

Startup mindset

Germany ticket

EgymWellpass

Give Card

Job summary

Blackwave in the Munich area is seeking an engineer to own the composite winding process research. You will design experiments, run tests, analyze data, and translate findings into process improvements to build reliable COPVs for space vehicles.

The role requires at least 2 years of hands-on experience with composites, a lab/workshop background, and strong documentation habits. English is essential; German is a plus.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years hands-on experience with composite materials and their processing.
• Comfortable working in a lab, workshop, or test environment; practical ability accompanies theory.
• Willingness to document work thoroughly and share knowledge with the team.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the composite winding process research end-to-end.
• Design and run experiments to advance our winding process and improve tank performance.
• Analyze data and translate findings into concrete process improvements.
• Document knowledge and share with the team to move the project forward.

Skills

Composite materials

Education

BSc minimum; MSc/PhD preferred

Thesis or project on composites

Job description

Your Responsibilities

The What: COPV failure in spaceflight is a solved problem – if the underlying process is right. The quality of our composite winding process determines the quality of every tank we build. We need an engineer who will own this research, drive it forward independently, and help us produce tanks that do not fail.

The Why: You are the owner of our composite winding process research. You don’t inherit a finished method – you develop one. From experiment design to test execution, data analysis to team knowledge transfer: you plan the work, run it, and take responsibility for the results.

You ensure:

• Experiments are designed thoroughly and executed to plan.
• Findings are analyzed critically and translated into concrete process improvements.
• Knowledge is documented and shared so the team moves forward together.

YOUR MISSION

Research and improve the composite winding process: Design and run experiments to advance our winding process and improve tank performance. Learn from every project, increase your efficiency over time, and develop improvement ideas.

High Performance – Deliver strong results under pressure. Each project makes the next one better.

Own your projects end-to-end: Take full responsibility for assigned projects – scope, schedule, and deliverables. Drive projects forward without being prompted. Question your own results and push for better.

Accountability – Own your work. Follow through. Deliver results independently.

Work closely within the team and across functions: Collaborate effectively within the team and with colleagues across the company. Coordinate on test scheduling, share progress proactively, and contribute to a team that moves as one.

Togetherness – The team succeeds together. Support others as you expect to be supported.

Share findings and challenge ideas openly: Defend your conclusions with confidence and stay open when others push back. Document and share knowledge proactively – what you learn should not stay with you alone. In our environment, speaking up and being transparent isn't just a value – it's a safety requirement.

Candor – Surface problems early. Speak up. Fix things faster.

Bring curiosity and ideas to every project: Approach technical challenges with genuine interest and a drive to understand how things work. Bring new ideas to the table, experiment with approaches, and stay energized by the complexity of the problem.

Playfulness – Serious about the mission. Driven by curiosity.

YOUR PROFILE

• Engineering degree in mechanical, aerospace, materials, chemical, or related field (BSc minimum; MSc or PhD preferred).
• At least 2 years of hands‑on experience with composite materials and their processing.
• At least one thesis or job focused on composites– composite materials, processes, dimensioning, testing.
• Comfortable working in a lab, workshop, or test environment; practical ability comes along with theoretical background.
• Willingness to document work thoroughly and share knowledge with the team.
• English proficiency, German nice to have.

Please upload work references and university transcripts with your application to be considered!

What We Offer

• High level of autonomy and real impact on our technology.
• Startup mindset meets aerospace innovation: flat hierarchies, fast decisions, and room for your ideas.
• Your choice of benefit: Germany ticket, EgymWellpass, or a tax‑free Give Card.
• Fresh shared lunches and a healthy team culture.
• Stunning views of the Alps from our Taufkirchen rooftop terrace.
• Growth opportunities: exciting projects and inspiring colleagues.
• A team that celebrates success together – tech talks, team events, and after‑work gatherings.

Please send your CV in English and get ready for take‑off!

About Us

Blackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight‑qualified, commercial off‑the‑shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight‑ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas.

More information at Blackwave.com and the procurement platform COPV.com.