Aerospace Composite Projects Lead

Element Materials Technology; Butler (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Element Los Angeles is seeking a Senior Technical Project Engineer to lead aerospace material-testing programs, including qualification, design-allowables, and certification support. You will manage customer plans, schedules, resources, and risk, coordinating with FAA and internal teams on complex lab projects.

The role demands strong technical knowledge of composites, program leadership, and exceptional communication to ensure project success and compliance with relevant standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, materials science, aerospace, chemistry, physics, or a related technical field.
• Seven or more years in technical project management, aerospace testing, material qualification, composite materials, or laboratory operations.
• Clear and concise communication, expectation management, able to manage and de-escalate situations.
• Working knowledge of polymer matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, plastics, specimen machining and preparation, environmental conditioning, mechanical testing, instrumentation, calibration, data acquisition, and technical reporting.
• Demonstrated ownership of complex schedules, budgets, forecasts, risks, resources, customer commitments, and cross-functional execution; strong written, verbal, facilitation, and customer-management skills.
• Experience with project scheduling tools, LIMS or ERP systems, Microsoft Office, ISO/IEC 17025, Nadcap, and aerospace specifications.

Responsibilities

• Customer leadership: Serve as the primary project contact; lead weekly status reviews and communicate issues and risks.
• Project ownership: Lead projects from contract review through planning, scheduling, specimen organization and testing.
• Schedule and financial control: Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and recovery plans.
• FAA program coordination: Coordinate FAA certification-program activities with customers and FAA representatives.
• Technical translation: Interpret statements of work, test plans, and standards to develop executable lab plans.
• Resources and risk: Determine staffing, equipment, suppliers, and procurement needs; manage risks and escalations.
• Quality and compliance: Ensure projects meet ISO/IEC 17025, Nadcap, FAA requirements, calibration, traceability and nonconformance processes.
• Team development: Mentor engineers and project managers in communication, customer service and leadership.

Skills

Technical project management

Aerospace testing

Composite materials knowledge

Customer management

Schedule management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

LIMS

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Element Los Angeles is seeking a Senior Technical Project Engineer to lead aerospace material-testing programs, including qualification, design-allowables, and certification support. You will manage customer plans, schedules, resources, and risk, coordinating with FAA and internal teams on complex lab projects.

The role demands strong technical knowledge of composites, program leadership, and exceptional communication to ensure project success and compliance with relevant standards.