Aerospace Composites R&D Engineer — Hands-On Prototyping

M4 Engineering; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

M4 Engineering in Long Beach, CA seeks an experienced R&D Composite Engineer to support cross‑site aerospace programs. You will take composite structures from concept to prototype, owning technical and schedule aspects of programs while working across our Long Beach team and the M4 Phoenix Technology Works shop in Maricopa, AZ.

You will design and lay up composites, develop cure cycles for prepregs and infusion, and oversee prototype builds and test hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field.
• Hands-on experience designing and fabricating composite structures.
• Experience building and testing prototype or demonstrator hardware.
• CAD experience with SolidWorks, NX, or CATIA.

Responsibilities

• Design composite structures and components using CAD from concept through fabrication data packages.
• Develop layup schedules, tooling concepts, and cure cycles for prepregs and infusion processes.
• Build or oversee prototype and test hardware, including layup, bonding, trimming, and assembly.
• Plan and execute test articles and demonstrator hardware with fabrication and test support.
• Own program schedule, budget, and deliverables for R&D and prototyping efforts.
• Coordinate with customers, suppliers, and vendors on requirements, materials, and procurement.
• Troubleshoot issues on the shop floor and iterate between design and fabrication.
• Support structural analysis and testing to verify designs during fabrication.
• Document processes and data in accordance with AS9100D quality requirements.
• Mentor technicians and junior engineers on composite design and fabrication best practices.

Skills

Composite design

Prototype fabrication

CAD (SolidWorks/NX/CATIA)

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field

Tools

AS9100D

Job description

M4 Engineering in Long Beach, CA seeks an experienced R&D Composite Engineer to support cross‑site aerospace programs. You will take composite structures from concept to prototype, owning technical and schedule aspects of programs while working across our Long Beach team and the M4 Phoenix Technology Works shop in Maricopa, AZ.

You will design and lay up composites, develop cure cycles for prepregs and infusion, and oversee prototype builds and test hardware.