Materials & Process Engineer - Advanced Composites Manufacturing

Approach Venture; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity participation

Company-provided lunches

401(k) with employer matching

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Approach Venture in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Materials & Process Engineer to advance composite hardware for aerospace, defense, and commercial use. You will connect material chemistry to processing and scale development from pilot to production.

The role emphasizes hands-on laboratory work, process optimization, and collaboration with manufacturing and supply chains to deliver robust, repeatable manufacturing methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• 3 years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong understanding of composite materials and process-structure-property relationships.
• Hands-on experience with fiber-reinforced composites or polymer-based materials.
• Experience with material characterization techniques such as TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, or rheology.
• Experience with mechanical coupon testing or material qualification.
• Experience with failure analysis and root cause investigation.
• Comfortable working hands-on in both laboratory and manufacturing environments.
• Strong technical problem-solving and communication skills.
• Must meet U.S. Person requirements under applicable export control regulations.
• Ability to work on-site in El Segundo five days per week.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize composite materials and manufacturing processes.
• Connect material chemistry, processing conditions, and final part performance.
• Run and interpret material characterization including TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, rheology, and related methods.
• Design and execute mechanical testing and process development campaigns.
• Evaluate new resin systems, fibers, adhesives, and other composite materials.
• Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations.
• Translate testing results into manufacturing process improvements.
• Scale processes from development and pilot work into production.
• Develop SOPs, test procedures, material specifications, and process documentation.
• Work closely with manufacturing, quality, mechanical engineering, and supply chain teams.
• Partner with suppliers to source, evaluate, and qualify new materials.
• Support manufacturing troubleshooting and continuous process improvement.
• Help build the materials and process capabilities needed as production scales.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelors in materials science

Tools

TGA

TMA

DMA

DSC

Rheology

Job description

**Materials & Process Engineer - Advanced Composites**

*Hawthorne, California | On-site*

**Opportunity Summary**

Join a well-funded, seed-stage advanced manufacturing company developing high-performance composite hardware for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications. The company has strong momentum across both commercial programs and the Department of War, with active contracts and plans to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint. As a Materials & Process Engineer, you will work across material characterization, process development, testing, failure analysis, and production scale-up. You will help connect material chemistry and processing conditions to final part performance, then translate those findings into repeatable manufacturing processes.

**About Us**

We are an early-stage space and defense manufacturing company developing new methods for producing lightweight, high-performance composite hardware at scale. With strong customer traction, active programs, and significant recent funding, the team is expanding quickly across engineering and manufacturing.

**Job Duties**

• Develop and optimize composite materials and manufacturing processes
• Connect material chemistry, processing conditions, and final part performance
• Run and interpret material characterization including TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, rheology, and related methods
• Design and execute mechanical testing and process development campaigns
• Evaluate new resin systems, fibers, adhesives, and other composite materials
• Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations
• Translate testing results into manufacturing process improvements
• Scale processes from development and pilot work into production
• Develop SOPs, test procedures, material specifications, and process documentation
• Work closely with manufacturing, quality, mechanical engineering, and supply chain teams
• Partner with suppliers to source, evaluate, and qualify new materials
• Support manufacturing troubleshooting and continuous process improvement
• Help build the materials and process capabilities needed as production scales

**Qualifications**

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
• 3 years of relevant industry experience
• Strong understanding of composite materials and process-structure-property relationships
• Hands-on experience with fiber-reinforced composites or polymer-based materials
• Experience with material characterization techniques such as TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, or rheology
• Experience with mechanical coupon testing or material qualification
• Experience with failure analysis and root cause investigation
• Comfortable working hands-on in both laboratory and manufacturing environments
• Strong technical problem-solving and communication skills
• Must meet U.S. Person requirements under applicable export control regulations
• Ability to work on-site in El Segundo five days per week

**Preferred Experience**

• Advanced degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Composites, or a related field
• 5 years of experience for Senior-level candidates
• Experience with composite manufacturing processes
• Experience with chopped and continuous fiber materials
• Knowledge of resin systems including epoxy, BMI, cyanate ester, vinyl ester, or phenolics
• Experience with structural adhesives and bonding
• Experience scaling processes from lab or pilot environments into production
• Experience with Design of Experiments or statistical process optimization
• Familiarity with AS9100, NADCAP, MIL-SPEC, or similar aerospace and defense standards
• Aerospace, defense, propulsion, or airframe experience
• Previous experience in a startup or small technical team

**Why Join Us**

• Join a well-capitalized seed-stage company with strong commercial and Department of War momentum
• Work on advanced composite technology moving rapidly into production
• Take significant ownership over materials and manufacturing process development
• Help build the Materials & Process function as the company scales
• Opportunity for growth into technical leadership and management
• Work across development, manufacturing, testing, and production
• Join the team ahead of a major facility and manufacturing expansion
• Equity participation
• Company-provided lunches
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays
• Life and disability insurance

**Compensation Details**

$110,000 - $150,000

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