Carbon Fiber Composites Design & Process Development Engineer

Edgewater Technical Associates; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical and dental insurance

401(k) retirement plan with company matching

Job summary

A specialized engineering firm is looking for a Carbon Fiber Composites Design & Process Development Engineer in Oak Ridge, TN. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in leading design, analysis, and manufacturing process improvements for composite parts. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in Materials Science or Mechanical Engineering and at least 10 years of experience, or a Master's degree with 5 years of experience. Candidates should exhibit strong leadership skills, a commitment to quality, and familiarity with simulation tools such as ANSYS, along with a solid understanding of lean manufacturing principles.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience with Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years with a Master’s degree.
• Expertise in mechanics of composite materials.
• Experience in developing composite manufacturing processes in R&D.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of carbon fiber composite parts.
• Perform mechanics of materials and structural analysis using advanced tools.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership.

Skills

Carbon fiber composite design

Structural analysis

Lean manufacturing

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science or Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree in relevant field

Tools

ANSYS

CAD/CAM software

Job description

Overview

Edgewater Technical Associates is seeking qualified candidates for a Carbon Fiber Composites Design & Process Development Engineer opportunity in Oak Ridge, TN.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Carbon Fiber Composites Design and Process Development Engineer to lead the design, analysis, and manufacturing process improvements of carbon fiber composite parts and vessels. In this role, you will drive both research and high-volume production initiatives, bridging the gap between innovative concept development and efficient manufacturing for advanced composite systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop carbon fiber composite parts and vessels, ensuring optimal strength-to-weight ratios and durability.
• Perform mechanics of materials and structural analysis of composite systems using ANSYS or other advanced simulation tools.
• Experience in translating layup design into bulk anisotropic composite property estimates
• Develop, validate, and optimize composite manufacturing processes—from tooling and fixture design to layup, curing, and machining—to meet rigorous quality and throughput goals.
• Lead R&D initiatives as well as high-volume production efforts, seamlessly transitioning concepts to production-scale applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, materials science, quality, and production to select composite systems and validate performance.
• Create detailed work instructions, process documentation, and quality protocols that ensure consistency and adherence to industry standards.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, applying lean manufacturing and statistical process control methodologies.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians, and provide technical leadership during process troubleshooting and corrective action implementation.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 10 years’ experience, or a Master’s degree (MS) or higher with at least 5 years’ relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in carbon fiber composite design and the mechanics of composite materials.
• Proven experience in structural analysis, particularly with simulation tools such as ANSYS or equivalent.
• Extensive background in developing and improving composite manufacturing processes in both R&D and high throughput production environments.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of composite processing techniques (e.g., autoclave curing, resin infusion, precision layup) and quality assurance methodologies.
• Experience with CAD/CAM software for tooling and fixture development.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles or Six Sigma practices.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with strong analytical and technical aptitude.

Other Job Requirements

• United States Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain required DOE and/or NRC security access authorization.

Application Process

If you are interested in being considered for this position and your resume clearly outlines your relevant experience for this position, please follow the application steps via our website:

www.edgewatertech.net/careers

About Edgewater

Edgewater will not submit your resume without first having detailed discussions with you and obtaining your permission to do so. We look forward to hearing from you!

WORKING WITH EDGEWATER TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES

Founded in 2003, Edgewater Technical Associates, LLC (Edgewater) is a New Mexico-based small business headquartered in Los Alamos, NM, with five (5) regional offices across the United States to locally support their growing presence at project sites. Edgewater has a proven track record and is a trusted provider of fixed-price construction projects, engineering, and technical services for the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), National Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Canadian Commercial Nuclear Industry, and private sector commercial contractors involved in nuclear, high-hazard, or complex operations. Edgewater’s experience and guidance ensure that its customers perform hazardous operations, comply with regulatory requirements, and maintain the highest quality and safety standards.

Originally founded to support the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Edgewater now supports customers across the U.S. and Canada. Edgewater has five offices, with corporate headquarters in Los Alamos, NM and regional offices in Carlsbad, NM; Oak Ridge, TN; Aiken, SC; and Richland, WA.

Edgewater is committed to recruiting and maintaining a staff of highly skilled professionals to support our customers. In keeping with this objective, we offer highly competitive salaries and employee benefit packages structured to best suit your needs. We offer multiple individual and family benefit options including paid time off, medical, dental, life, vision, and disability insurance, and a pre- and post-tax 401 (k) retirement account with Company matching contributions and 100% vesting for eligible participants beginning DAY 1.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Edgewater is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veterans, or individuals with disabilities in accordance with EO 14173.

View all Edgewater opportunities at www.edgewatertech.net/careers