Research & Development Engineering Manager

Smartsearchonline; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4-Day Week

Employer-paid medical

Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Smartsearchonline in Carson City, NV is seeking an experienced Research & Development Engineering Manager to lead aerospace assembly innovations. You will set technology roadmaps, guide multidisciplinary teams, and move new concepts from idea to qualification, with a focus on speed, reliability, and IP generation.

This role offers a 4-day work week (Fridays off), 100% employer-paid medical for employees, and a strong culture of stability and growth in a family-owned aerospace manufacturer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field.
• 8-12+ years of R&D experience in aerospace or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong background in materials, adhesives, thermoplastics, or related technologies.
• Experience developing and executing technology roadmaps.
• Experience generating patents and managing IP.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute R&D strategies and technology roadmaps.
• Identify materials and joining technologies to improve performance and cost.
• Lead development of adhesives, thermoplastics, laser prep, and fasteners.
• Drive projects from concept through qualification to production.
• Mentor a multidisciplinary engineers team.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales.
• Drive patent creation and IP development.

Skills

R&D leadership

Aerospace materials

Joining technologies

Prototyping

IP generation

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry

Tools

Laser systems

Bonding systems

Surface analysis tools

Job description

Job Details

• Job ID: 86854
• Job Category: A&D/Semi
• Position Type: Direct
• Duration: full time
• Shift: 1
• Location: Carson City,NV
• Posted: 8/25/2026

Research & Development Engineering Manager 4-Day Work Week | Fridays + Weekends Off 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, Apply Now!

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive Base Salary: $123,300 - $185,000
• 4-Day Work Week with Fridays + Weekends Off
• 100% Employer-Paid Medical Coverage for the Employee
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• 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.

Job Requirements

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.
• Aerospace or defense R&D experience.
• 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.