Director, Advanced Materials
Textron
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Textron in Wilmington, Massachusetts is seeking a Director of Advanced Materials & Hypersonics to lead a team focused on the development and qualification of advanced composite materials for high-temperature applications.
The candidate must have at least 15 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree and excellent leadership skills, along with strong communication abilities. The position is full-time, requiring some travel and offers benefits including flexible schedules and education assistance.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 15 years of experience with a BS, or 10 years with an MS/Ph.D.
- Experience in leadership of advanced materials development programs.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for development of advanced materials.
- Oversee material and process development phases.
- Lead multidisciplinary engineering and materials science teams.
- Engage with DoD customers and industry partners.
- Drive proposal development for DoD opportunities.
- Ensure program execution excellence.
Skills
Education
Job description
Director, Advanced Materials
Description
Who We Are
Textron Systems is part of Textron, a $14 billion, multi-industry company employing 35,000 talented makers, thinkers, creators and doers worldwide. We make things that fly, hover, zoom and launch. Things that move people. Protect soldiers. Power industries. We serve customers in industries spanning aerospace and defense, specialized vehicles, turf care and fuel systems.
This role is in Textron System’s Weapon Systems business area. Visit TextronSystems.com & Lycoming.com to read more about who we are and the products we make!
The Director of Advanced Materials & Hypersonics will lead a high-performing team of engineers and material scientists focused on the development, qualification, and transition of advanced composite materials and manufacturing processes for ultra‑high‑temperature reentry and hypersonic applications. This role requires a forward‑looking technical leader capable of guiding strategic R&D initiatives, building strong customer relationships across the DoD community, and driving execution excellence from concept through deployment.
- Provide strategic leadership for the development of advanced materials, thermal protection systems, and high‑temperature composite structures supporting hypersonic and reentry programs.
- Oversee all phases of material and process development, including concept exploration, architecture definition, design/build/test cycles, qualification, and transition to production.
- Lead a multidisciplinary engineering and materials science team, ensuring strong collaboration, technical rigor, and professional development.
- Engage with DoD customers, national laboratories, and industry partners to shape program requirements, influence technology roadmaps, and ensure alignment with mission priorities.
- Drive proposal development, including technical volumes, cost strategies, and program execution plans for competitive DoD opportunities.
- Ensure program execution excellence with attention to schedule, risk management, cost performance, and compliance with quality and security requirements.
- Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to interface effectively with senior leadership, government stakeholders, and technical teams.
- Demonstrated experience designing or architecting advanced material systems for high‑temperature flight environments, including strategic reentry and hypersonic applications.
- Hands‑on experience with composite material development and the design/build/test lifecycle.
- Proven ability to lead diverse, multifunctional teams in a highly technical environment.
- US citizenship and ability to obtain at least a Secret security clearance.
- Deep understanding of carbon/carbon, ceramic matrix composites, polymer matrix composites, and related high‑temperature systems.
- Experience with thermal protection systems, high‑temperature materials testing, ablation behavior, and densification processes.
- Knowledge of additive manufacturing approaches relevant to extreme‑environment materials.
- Familiarity with multidirectional weaving technologies.
- Experience with physics‑based modeling, mathematical simulations, and performance prediction tools.
- Experience engaging with DoD S&T organizations such as AFRL, DARPA, MDA, ARL and ONR.
- Ability to develop technology roadmaps and long‑term investment strategies aligned with customer mission needs.
- Strong business development skills, including shaping opportunities, building customer relationships, and developing competitive proposals.
- Knowledge of ITAR/EAR, AS9100, and other quality and compliance frameworks.
- Ability to lead in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments while balancing near‑term execution with long‑term strategic goals.
BS in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field required; MS or Ph.D. strongly preferred.
Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience with a BS, or 10 years with an MS/Ph.D., including leadership of advanced materials development programs.
At Textron Systems, our talented people make us successful. We promote an inclusive environment where we value individuality, differences, and unique perspectives.
Our Company is committed to offering employees opportunities to grow and develop. Our benefits and compensation packages are designed to help our talented employees excel and achieve their goals, so they can make a difference every day in and outside of the workplace.
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Education Assistance
- Career Development & Training Opportunities
- Wellness Program (including Fitness Reimbursement)
- Medical, Dental, Vision & 401(K) with Company Funding
- Paid Parental Leave
Textron is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, disability, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation), genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Recruiting Company: Textron Systems
Primary Location: US-Massachusetts-Wilmington
Job Function: Engineering
Schedule: Full‑time
Job Level: Director
Job Type: Experienced
Shift: First Shift
Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time
Relocation: Available
Job Posting: 06/02/2026, 9:26:51 AM
Job Number: 342457
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