Materials Engineer

Blue Bird Brand; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

14 paid holidays

401k matching

Job summary

Blue Bird Corporation in Georgia designs and manufactures school buses focused on safety, reliability, and durability. The Materials Engineer will research, test, and qualify materials to optimize weight, durability, and regulatory compliance across traditional and EV chassis.

This role requires collaboration with Design, Manufacturing and Procurement, leading material selection, testing, and failure analysis to drive weight reduction and performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Materials Science Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering.
• 3–5 years in materials engineering, product development or failure analysis in automotive/aerospace sectors.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident; able to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and select metals, alloys, plastics, composites, and coatings for vehicle structures.
• Conduct mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing to validate materials.
• Lead root cause analyses on field or production failures with technical reports.
• Audit supplier processes and define material specifications and incoming inspection standards.
• Drive weight reduction and efficiency through material substitution while maintaining integrity.

Skills

Metallurgy

Polymer chemistry

Structural composites

Coatings

Analytical lab skills

Manufacturing process literacy

Standards mastery

Education

Bachelor of Science in Materials Science Engineering

Tools

SEM

Optical microscope

Spectrometers

Hardness testers

3DEXPERIENCE PLM

Job description

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

JOB SUMMARY

The Materials Engineer in will research, test, and qualify materials to optimize the safety, structural integrity, and longevity of Blue Bird's school bus and commercial vehicle. This role drives innovation in light-weighting, corrosion resistance, and sustainability for both traditional and electric vehicle (EV) chassis and bodies. The Materials Engineer will serve as the company’s subject matter expert for all materials used in our products and will champion innovation be leading the introduction of advanced materials which comply with strict safety, durability, and regulatory standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Material Selection & Innovation: Evaluate and select metals, alloys, plastics, composites, polymers, and coatings for body structures, chassis components, and thermal management systems.
• Testing & Characterization: Conduct mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical testing (e.g., tensile, hardness, microscopic analysis, corrosion) to validate supplier materials.
• Failure Analysis: Lead comprehensive root cause analysis (RCA) on component failures from the field or production line, delivering technical reports and corrective actions.
• Supplier Quality Validation: Partner with Procurement and Quality teams to audit supplier manufacturing processes, establishing technical material specifications and incoming inspection standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and drive material-substitution opportunities to reduce vehicle weight, lower manufacturing costs, and improve fuel/battery efficiency without sacrificing structural integrity.
• Regulatory & Safety Compliance: Ensure all engineering materials comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), environmental regulations (e.g., REACH/RoHS), and internal corporate sustainability goals.
• Cross-Functional Consultation: Act as the technical subject matter expert (SME) for Design Engineering and Manufacturing Operations, advising on material behavior during stamping, welding, and painting.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS

• Technical Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of metallurgy, polymer chemistry, structural composites, and material coatings (e.g. e-coat, primer, paint, and powder coating).
• Analytical Laboratory Skills: Proficiency with lab equipment such as optical microscopes, spectrometers, hardness testers, and scanning electron microscopes (SEM).
• Manufacturing Process Literacy: Solid understanding of how material properties change during automotive manufacturing processes like hot/cold stamping, robotic welding, and adhesive bonding.
• Standards & Specifications Mastery: Familiarity with ASTM, SAE, ISO, and FMVSS engineering material standards and testing protocols.
• Problem-Solving & Data Analysis: Strong data-driven troubleshooting skills with the ability to translate complex lab data into actionable engineering recommendations.

BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in materials engineering, product development, or failure analysis within an automotive, heavy truck, or aerospace manufacturing environment.
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Direct experience working with high-strength steels (AHSS), aluminum alloys, and/or composite materials aimed at automotive vehicle weight reduction.
• Familiarity with battery-pack materials, thermal interface materials (TIMs), or high-voltage insulation systems used in Electric Vehicles (EVs).
• Advanced engineering degree, such as a Master of Science or Ph.D. in Materials Science.
• Hands-on experience utilizing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems (e.g., Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE) to manage material databases and technical specifications.

WE VALUE

• Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
• Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
• Ability to influence stakeholders
• Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
• Flexible workspaces and work hours to help you unleash the best you.
• Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

INCLUDES

• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

WORK CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day

*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Blue Bird is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.

All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

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