Research and Development Engineering Manager

Motive Workforce; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4-Day work week

Employer-paid medical

401(k) with match

Paid time off & holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Motive Workforce seeks an experienced Research & Development Engineering Manager in Northern Nevada to lead advanced aerospace assembly technologies, drive innovation, and manage multidisciplinary teams. The role emphasizes creating IP, competitive differentiation, and delivering measurable R&D milestones.

You will shape technology roadmaps, oversee experiments, and collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Sales to transition new capabilities to production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
• 8–12+ years of progressive R&D experience in aerospace or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering, scientific, or technical teams.
• Strong background in materials, joining technologies, adhesives, thermoplastics, surface prep/analysis, fasteners.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute R&D strategies and technology roadmaps aligned with long-term objectives.
• Identify emerging materials, processes, and fastening technologies to improve performance, weight, and cost.
• Lead development of adhesives and bonding systems, thermoplastics, laser prep, and mechanical fastening solutions.
• Drive R&D programs through prototyping, validation, qualification, and commercialization.
• Lead innovation pipeline to turn ideas into viable products and IP.
• Mentor and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Skills

R&D leadership

Roadmapping

IP strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Materials/Cysics or related

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

Laser processing

Surface analysis

Adhesives & bonding

Job description

Research & Development Engineering Manager

Build the Future of Aerospace - Without Giving Up Your Life Outside of Work

What if you could lead cutting-edge aerospace innovation, work a 4-day work week, and have every Friday and weekend off?

How about doing it in Northern Nevada, where there is no individual state income tax, Lake Tahoe

and world-class skiing are roughly 30 minutes away, and the Pacific Coast is just a few hours' drive?

Would you like to join a family-owned aerospace manufacturer with an 80% employee retention rate, 100% paid employee medical coverage, and a history of never laying off an employee?

This organization has built its reputation solving some of the toughest assembly challenges in the aerospace and defense industries.

Its innovative fastening and assembly technologies are used in demanding commercial aerospace, military, defense, and space applications where reliability, weight, performance, and precision matter.

Now they're looking for an R&D Engineering Manager to help lead the next generation of aerospace assembly technology.

If you're ready to combine technical innovation, leadership, stability, and an incredible quality of life,

• 4-Day Work Week with Fridays + Weekends Off
• 100% Employer-Paid Medical Coverage for the Employee
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• Tuition Assistance & Professional Development
• Approximately 80% Employee Retention
• Family-Owned, Family-Oriented Culture
• No Individual State Income Tax in Nevada
• Exceptional Stability - No Company Layoffs, Even During COVID
• Career Growth with an Established Aerospace & Defense Manufacturer
• Northern Nevada Location Near Lake Tahoe, Skiing, Hiking & Outdoor Recreation

Are You Ready to Lead What's Next in Aerospace Innovation?

If you're the type of engineering leader who still enjoys the technical side of R&D and wants to turn new ideas into technologies that can change how aircraft and defense systems are built, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We're looking for a hands-on Research & Development Engineering Manager to lead innovation across advanced aerospace assembly technologies.

You’ll develop technology roadmaps, lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, drive new products from concept through qualification, and create intellectual property that provides a sustainable competitive advantage. Your work will span advanced adhesives, thermoplastics, laser-based surface preparation, surface analysis, and unique mechanical fastening technologies.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and execute R&D strategies and technology roadmaps aligned with long-term business objectives.
• Identify emerging materials, processes, and fastening technologies that improve aerospace assembly performance, reliability, weight, sustainability, and cost.
• Lead development of advanced adhesives and bonding systems, thermoplastics, laser surface preparation, surface characterization, and mechanical fastening solutions.
• Drive R&D programs through experimentation, prototyping, validation, qualification, and commercialization.
• Lead a structured innovation pipeline that turns new ideas into viable products and technologies.
• Benchmark competitive technologies, aerospace industry trends, and customer needs to identify future opportunities.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sustaining Engineering, and Sales to successfully transition new technologies into production.
• Drive patent creation, invention disclosures, and intellectual property development.
• Partner with legal counsel on patent filings, prosecution, IP strategy, and freedom-to-operate considerations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and technicians.
• Establish R&D metrics around innovation pipeline, time-to-market, technology readiness, R&D efficiency, and IP generation.
• Manage R&D budgets, resources, laboratories, suppliers, universities, and external technical partnerships.
• Engage directly with aerospace OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and industry partners on emerging assembly challenges.
• Support customer technical reviews, demonstrations, and collaborative development programs.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
• 8–12+ years of progressive R&D experience within aerospace or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering, scientific, or technical teams.
• Strong technical background in materials, joining technologies, adhesives, thermoplastics, surface preparation/analysis, mechanical fasteners, or related technologies.
• Experience developing and executing technology roadmaps.
• Demonstrated success leading complex R&D and product-development programs.
• Strong experience with experimental design, prototyping, testing, validation, and qualification.
• Demonstrated experience generating patents and managing intellectual property.
• Experience taking new technologies from concept toward commercialization.
• Strong cross-functional experience with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Sales.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to customers, engineering teams, and senior leadership.
• Strong technical documentation, problem-solving, and data‑driven decision‑making skills.

Preferred Experience

• Master's degree or PhD in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related technical field.
• Advanced adhesives and aerospace bonding systems.
• Thermoplastic materials and joining technologies.
• Laser surface preparation or laser processing.
• Surface characterization and analysis.
• Aerospace mechanical fasteners or fastening systems.
• Composite structures and aerospace assembly.
• Experience working directly with major aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
• Patent generation and IP strategy.
• Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
• Experience taking technology from early-stage R&D through aerospace qualification and production.

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