Principal Process Engineer, MBJ

Beehive Industries; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Disability coverage

401(k) with company match

Equity in the company

Job summary

Beehive Industries is a Knoxville, TN based defense-focused company advancing Metal Binder Jet technology for aerospace applications. The Principal Additive Process Engineer leads process development, metallurgy execution, and production-scale optimization within a highly regulated environment.

The role requires deep MBJ/CBJ proficiency, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to drive strategic technical decisions across the manufacturing ecosystem. A U.S.

Qualifications

• Extensive MBJ/CBJ process development and production scale-up experience.
• Strong metallurgical knowledge and material behavior understanding.
• Proven leadership on complex engineering programs in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority for MBJ processes, materials, and readiness.
• Define roadmaps for additive manufacturing capabilities, process optimization, and production scalability.
• Lead development of production-ready processes, including qualification and validation.
• Mentor engineers and guide cross-functional teams.
• Represent AM expertise in technical reviews with leadership, customers, suppliers, and industry partners.

Skills

Additive manufacturing

Metallurgy

Materials engineering

Process development

DOE / experimental design

Cross-functional leadership

Mentorship

Technical strategy

Security clearance (US)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

MBJ systems

CBJ systems

Job description

Beehive Industries is dedicated to Powering American Defense by revolutionizing the design, development, and delivery of jet propulsion systems to support the warfighter. Through the integration of additive manufacturing, the company aims to meet the growing and urgent needs for unmanned aerial defense by dramatically improving a jet engine’s speed to market, fuel efficiency, and cost.

• Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, with additional facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee, Loveland Ohio, and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Beehive is committed to grow and advance the defense industrial base while manufacturing exclusively in the USA. This role will be located at our Knoxville, Tennessee facility.

Role Overview

The Principal Additive Process Engineer serves as a recognized technical authority responsible for advancing Metal Binder Jet (MBJ) technology, materials, and production capabilities for critical aerospace and defense applications. This role provides expert-level leadership in additive manufacturing process development, metallurgy, and production scale-up while influencing technical strategy and manufacturing innovation. The Principal Additive Process Engineer drives solutions to complex technical challenges and establishes best practices that enable reliable, high-performance additive manufacturing operations.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a technical authority for Metal Binder Jet additive manufacturing processes, materials development, and production readiness initiatives
• Define technical strategies and roadmaps for additive manufacturing capabilities, process optimization, and production scalability
• Establish and improve additive manufacturing standards, specifications, process controls, and technical documentation
• Drive resolution of the most complex challenges related to powder metallurgy, laser-material interaction, melt pool behavior, thermal management, and part performance
• Lead development of production-ready additive manufacturing processes including qualification, validation, and continuous improvement activities
• Apply advanced expertise in metallurgy and additive manufacturing to optimize material properties, defect reduction, and manufacturing performance
• Influence integration of MBJ into broader manufacturing workflows including post-processing, machining, inspection, and quality systems
• Guide cross-functional engineering teams in solving complex technical problems and advancing additive manufacturing capabilities
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across additive manufacturing initiatives
• Support strategic decisions related to equipment capabilities, process improvements, and future manufacturing technologies
• Represent additive manufacturing expertise in technical reviews with leadership, customers, suppliers, and industry partners
• Perform other duties as assigned

You have

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in additive manufacturing, MBJ and/or CBJ process development, metallurgy, materials engineering, or related manufacturing disciplines
• Extensive experience developing, optimizing, and scaling additive manufacturing processes for production applications
• Demonstrated experience serving as a technical leader on complex engineering programs and manufacturing initiatives
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments
• Expert knowledge of MBJ and/or CBJ systems, additive manufacturing processes, and production implementation strategies
• Deep understanding of powder metallurgy, material behavior, and thermal management
• Advanced experience with process parameter development, powder characterization, defect analysis, and process optimization
• Ability to establish technical direction and solve complex engineering challenges with significant organizational impact
• Experience developing manufacturing standards, process specifications, and qualification strategies
• Strong understanding of process control, experimental design (DOE), data analysis, and manufacturing validation methods
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and communicate complex technical concepts to technical and executive audiences
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and elevate technical capabilities within an organization
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Engineering, or related field
• Experience leading production MBJ and/or CBJ implementation for aerospace or defense applications
• Experience with additional additive manufacturing technologies including EBM, DED, or binder jet
• Familiarity with investment casting, machining, and hybrid manufacturing strategies
• Experience leading additive manufacturing technology transitions from research and development through production scale-up
• Experience contributing to patents, publications, technical presentations, or industry standards
• Experience influencing manufacturing strategy, capital investments, and long-term technology roadmaps

Beehive Industries offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term disability coverage from day one.

We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match.

Every role at Beehive Industries is bonus eligible and will also receive equity in the company.

Beehive Industries is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.