R&T Engineer, Materials & Processing

albanyjobs; Rochester (NH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany is seeking an aerospace materials engineer to support R&D in composites. You will lead initiatives to enable world-class competency, evaluate materials, and contribute to programs from idea to completion.

You’ll collaborate on process improvements, design verification, testing, and develop cost models for business development while mentoring team members in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials, mechanical, civil, aerospace engineering, or related field.
• 2–5 years in aerospace, composites, materials engineering, or related fields preferred.
• Exposure to composite materials, manufacturing processes, or product development.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead initiatives to enable and sustain world class technical competency in R&D.
• Identify advanced technologies and applications for potential business development and stay abreast of industry trends.
• Collaborate on design verification and validation for new products, including testing and qualification plans.
• Develop quotations, cost models, and trade studies for business development activities.
• Participate in customer visits and program team meetings related to engineering elements.

Skills

Team leadership

Mechanics knowledge

Communication

Problem solving

Hands-on

Willingness to learn

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials/Mechanical/Civil/Aerospace engineering

Advanced degree a plus

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks/Catia)

Abaqus

LS-Dyna

PAM-RTM

LIMS

FiberSim

PAM-FORM

Job description

Schedule:

We offer a flexible 9/80 work schedule, where you’ll enjoy an extra day off every other week. This structure balances full‑time hours with more personal time, supporting both productivity and work‑life balance.

Job Purpose:

This role supports research and technology projects that help advance AEC’s composite manufacturing capabilities. You’ll be part of a team exploring new materials, new processes, and new ways to build advanced composite structures. The work includes hands‑on engineering, collaborative problem solving, and contributing to projects that expand AEC’s technology portfolio. Someone in this role will grow their technical capabilities while supporting both internal initiatives and customer‑focused development efforts.

Job Responsibilities:

In performing their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to adhere to Albany’s current values: Albany Wins Together, Count on Each Other, Own Your Actions, Care About Each Other, and Share Your Enthusiasm. Safety must always come first; we never compromise on safety for the sake of achieving another objective. Employees are also responsible for the health and safety of themselves and each other.

• Identify and lead initiatives to enable and sustain world class technical competency and proficiency of the Research and Development organization as needed to meet company goals.
• Identify advanced technologies and applications for potential business development. Stay abreast of industry trends in technology development and best practices, participate in relevant industry events.
• Contribute tactical effort to specific programs as required. Significant effort is expected for key strategic programs such as:
  • Identify and evaluate alternate materials for use in 3D woven/molded composite structures.
  • Identify manufacturing processes that will complement those currently in use at AEC or will expand the range of components which can be fabricated at AEC.
  • Establish plans for maturing the technologies identified.
• Provide mentoring and technical leadership; assist in the assessment of technical competencies of the organization, identify skills and training needs and assist in developing and executing plans to address them.
• Collaborate and lead as necessary the design verification and validation process of new products, including material and component testing.
• Establish material characterization and qualification plans in line with certification agencies expectations (e.g., FAA,EASA).
• Design, source, and procure equipment and tooling needed to support new composite parts and manufacturing processes.
• Lead and/or support internally funded, customer funded, and capital expenditure projects from idea phase (project creation) through completion. Must have ability to lead small working team on dedicated project.
• Evaluate the results of computational models and experiments to assess the performance of processes, materials and structures.
• Develop quotations, cost models, and trade studies in support of various business development activities.
• Participate in key customer visits, program team meetings, and activities related to engineering/technical elements of various programs.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Supervisory Responsibility: No

Qualifications/Characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree in materials, mechanical, civil, aerospace engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree a plus.
• 2-5 years in aerospace, composites, materials engineering, or related fields preferred.
• Exposure to composite materials, manufacturing processes, or product development
• Exposure to Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) and related processing methods is a plus.
• High proficiency and demonstrated technical skills related to the design, development, and manufacturing of some or all of the following composite structures and processes:
  • Aerospace primary and secondary composite structures and related manufacturing and processing techniques (i.e. weaving, complex textile preforms, dry or prepreg layup, RTM, VARTM, press molding, autoclave and out‑of‑autoclave processing, bonding, finishing, assembly).
• Exposure to software (e.g. CAD with SolidWorks or Catia, Finite Element Analysis with Abaqus, LS‑Dyna, etc., RTM process modeling with PAM‑RTM, LIMS, etc., Draping analysis with FiberSim, PAM‑FORM, etc.).
• Strong understanding of mechanics and strength of materials.
• Familiarity with methods and analysis of material characterization methods and analysis (i.e. DSC, DMA, rheology, etc.), destructive testing (coupons, sample preparation, component testing), and non‑destructive composite test methods (μCT scanning, Ultrasonic, laser scanning, etc.)
• Familiarity with new product introduction (NPI) standards, aerospace certification methods, and the development of design allowables.
• Team and people skills, including interpersonal skills that are required to lead, mentor, communicate, and build the technical capabilities of the organization.
• MSOffice proficient; Excellent written and oral communication.
• Proven problem‑solving skills in teamwork setting.
• Proven willingness and ability to learn.
• Willingness to perform “hands‑on” work in a dynamic setting.
• Action Oriented; Results Driven; Strong Decision‑making and Customer Focus.

Working Conditions:

Indoor office/manufacturing environment, duties performed indoors, adequate lighting and comfortable temperatures. Occasional exposure to moderate noise and machinery with mechanical moving parts. Ability to work 24/7 schedule and be available as business situations required. Occasional travel may be required.

Physical requirements:

• Occasionally positions self to move an office item >10 lbs.
• Frequently move about the production floor and office area to attend meetings or trainings.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 75% of the time.
  Frequently operates on a computer.