Composites Expert

SURVICE Engineering; Maryland; On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Comprehensive insurance options

Paid time off

401k

Flexible spending

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

SURVICE Engineering invites a Composites Expert to join the Aberdeen Research Operation. The role focuses on fabricating and evaluating composite laminates, using hand-lay-up, VARTM, and AFP processes, with emphasis on data collection and analysis of material properties.

The position requires a Mechanical or Materials Engineering degree and hands-on experience with composites. You will contribute to performance evaluations, develop models, and present results in Government format.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with composite manufacturing/processing methods.
• Experience with ASTM and non-standard experimental testing of composites and polymers.
• Experience with microscopy/failure analysis methods for composites and polymers.
• Experience/familiarity with modeling methods for advanced composite materials.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate flat panel fiber reinforced laminates of arbitrary architecture for material characterization using hand-lay-up, filament winding, VARTM or AFP for autoclave or compression molding.
• Operate basic machining equipment to convert panels into test coupons meeting ASTM geometries and tabbing guidelines.
• Instrument/prepare samples with strain measuring approaches including strain gage, extensometer, and DIC.
• Operate data acquisition equipment to capture in-situ material response data.
• Design non-standard experiments for sub-components or prototype articles to support evaluations and model development.
• Design prototype concepts for testing material properties.
• Measure materials response of composites and plastics using standard test protocols.
• Collect, organize, and reduce data to report basic engineering constants, mechanical properties and rankings.
• Fabricate digital laminates and assess properties using computational methods.
• Design laminate structures and component geometries in SolidWorks and export to software for analysis.
• Formulate new chemistries and materials for resins, adhesives, polymers, or precursors.
• Run predictive design of experiments to project property response under loading.
• Complete comprehensive data analysis and review to determine go/no-go and support decisions on processing or selection.
• Prepare presentations and written documents summarizing efforts in Government format

Skills

Hands-on composites

ASTM testing experience

Microscopy/failure analysis

Modeling methods for composites

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Autodyne

CGTech

Job description

Join Us in Making a Difference in the Lives of Those Defending Our Nation!

Why SURVICE?

Come join the SURVICE Engineering mission to protect, enhance, and enable those who defend the United States. Since 1981, we have supported the DoD community, as well as Homeland Security, advanced technologies, environmental, and commercial markets. Our employees have backgrounds in engineering, physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, acquisition, technical writing, training, and other technical and administrative fields. And many of our personnel have DoD and/or operational military experience. If you're looking for a challenging and rewarding career with a leading organization, come see what we can offer you!

Position

Composites Researcher

• Location: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
• Security Clearance: U.S. citizenship required
• Salary: $85,000 - $105,000 Depending on Experience and Education
• Travel: 5%
• Benefits: SURVICE Engineering offers a total rewards package to include competitive salaries, comprehensive insurance options, paid time off, 401k, flexible spending, tuition reimbursement.

Position Summary

SURVICE Engineering is currently seeking a Composites Expert to support our Aberdeen Research Operation. You will accelerate your career and become an integral team member within the defense community.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Fabricate flat panel fiber reinforced laminates of arbitrary architecture for material characterization using hand-lay-up, filament winding, VARTM or advanced fiber placement technology (AFP) for autoclave or compression molding consolidation.
• Operate basic machining equipment (surface grinder, CNC mill, slot grinding, band saw) to convert as-processed flat composite panels into test coupons that meet specified ASTM geometries and tabbing guidelines.
• Instrument/prepare both ASTM and non-standard test samples with strain measuring approaches including strain gage, extensometer, and digital image correlation (DIC).
• Operate complex data acquisition equipment to capture in-situ material response data using a variety of methods.
• Design, engineer and plan non-standard experiments for sub-component or prototype articles to support performance evaluations and model development and validation.
• Design unique prototype concepts for testing material properties.
• Measure materials response of composites and plastics using appropriate ASTM or equivalent standard test protocols.
• Collect, organize, and reduce data to report on basic engineering constants, mechanical properties for database development and screening/ranking of performance.
• Fabricate digital laminates using commercial codes and assess property using computational methods.
• Design laminate structures and component geometries in Solidworks. Export and or translate to engineering software for build or material property analysis in Autodyne or CGTech commercial codes.
• Formulate new chemistries and materials from molecular chemical options to design new resins, adhesives, polymers, or composite precursors for new materials.
• Run predictive design of experiments using computational methods to project property response to static or dynamic loading of coupons in digital framework.
• Complete comprehensive data analysis and review of measured data across range of technical measurement methods to determine go/no-go and facilitate decision making on materials processing or selection for performance-based results.
• Prepare presentations and written documents summarizing efforts in Government format

Minimum Qualifications Of Composites Expert

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Materials Engineering and 1+ years of relevant experience. Exceptional candidates with less experience will be considered. Candidates are not required to possess all qualifications; if you possess some of the desired qualifications, please apply.

• Hands-on experience with composite manufacturing/processing methods
• Experience with ASTM and non-standard experimental testing of composites and polymers
• Experience with microscopy/failure analysis methods for composites and polymers
• Experience/familiarity with modeling methods for advanced composite materials

About Us

SURVICE Engineering is a nationally recognized, single-source engineering service provider for Government and Industry organizations involved in all phases of the systems engineering process. Our employees are our most valuable asset, and they are proud to have supported the development, testing, analysis, and modeling and simulation (M&S) of many of the major U.S. air, land, and sea combat systems in the field today. They have also contributed their expertise to other vital national defense programs and technologies that involve survivability, cybersecurity, information technology/management, software engineering, unmanned aerial systems (UASs), and metrology/reverse engineering.

SURVICE Engineering is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.