Materials Science Director – Aerospace Additive

MissionHires; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

MissionHires seeks a Director of Materials to lead materials engineering and laboratory teams responsible for metallurgical integrity, process qualification, feedstock development, materials innovation, and customer certification for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.

This senior technical leader will serve as the organization’s materials science authority, guiding testing, qualification, and process improvements, while interfacing with government agencies, customers, and partners

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Materials Science, Metallurgy, or a related engineering field strongly preferred; a Bachelor's degree with equivalent progressive experience will be considered.
• 10+ years of materials engineering experience in aerospace, defense, additive manufacturing, thermal spray, or oil and gas.
• At least 3 years of experience leading technical staff.
• Demonstrated expertise in material properties, microstructure, metallurgy, and materials characterization techniques, including SEM, TEM, and X-ray diffraction.
• Working knowledge of ASTM and MIL-STD standards and material qualification processes.
• Proven ability to lead technology development initiatives and cross-functional programs.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance if required.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident due to export control regulations.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs, work in laboratory and industrial environments, and wear required PPE, including a respirator following medical clearance and fit testing, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Direct experience with cold spray, thermal spray, or additive manufacturing is preferred.
• Experience working with metal powders and combustible dust controls is preferred.
• Experience with automation or robotic process integration is preferred.
• Prior leadership experience in a high-tech manufacturing or defense organization is preferred.
• An established network in aerospace, defense, or industrial manufacturing is preferred.
• Patent or peer-reviewed publication experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, hire, develop, and manage the Materials Science team, including goal setting, performance management, succession planning, and technical career development.
• Serve as the company subject matter expert for materials science, metallurgy, cold spray microstructures, and material properties.
• Direct the development, qualification, and continuous improvement of cold spray process parameters, feedstock powders, and material systems.
• Establish powder and feedstock specifications and support supplier qualification and incoming material controls.
• Design and implement testing and evaluation protocols using SEM, TEM, X-ray diffraction, and other applicable techniques in accordance with ASTM and MIL-STD requirements.
• Lead failure analysis and root-cause investigations and partner with Quality on corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Automation teams to transfer new materials and processes into stable, repeatable production.
• Support customer qualification and certification activities and provide technical input for proposals, programs, and demonstrations.
• Act as a primary technical interface with U.S. Government agencies, prime contractors, academic institutions, research laboratories, and commercial partners.
• Partner with Safety and Operations on powder handling practices and combustible dust controls.
• Manage laboratory operations, equipment, capital planning, and the department budget.
• Support intellectual property development, including invention disclosures and patent filings.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, export control, and security requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Materials engineering

Metallurgy

Materials characterization

Education

Master's or PhD in Materials Science/Metallurgy

Bachelor's degree with equivalent progressive experience

Tools

SEM

TEM

X-ray diffraction

Job description

MissionHires seeks a Director of Materials to lead materials engineering and laboratory teams responsible for metallurgical integrity, process qualification, feedstock development, materials innovation, and customer certification for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.

This senior technical leader will serve as the organization’s materials science authority, guiding testing, qualification, and process improvements, while interfacing with government agencies, customers, and partners