Senior Materials Engineer

Kensington360; Lewiston (ME); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and 401(k) from day one

Job summary

Kensington360 is seeking a Senior Materials Engineer in Lewiston, Maine, to support the production of precision-engineered products in regulated industries such as aerospace and defense. This hands-on role entails responsibilities in manufacturing process ownership, material performance, and product quality.

The successful candidate will lead efforts in troubleshooting issues, improving processes, and collaborating with various teams including R&D, finance, and production. Interested candidates with a Bachelor's in Materials Engineering and relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong problem-solving and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical owner for assigned manufacturing and process areas.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.
• Monitor and audit product and process performance to ensure quality standards.

Skills

Process control

Material properties

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma methodologies

Analytical skills

Project management

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering or related field

Job description

A U.S.-based advanced manufacturing business is looking for a Senior Materials Engineer to support the production of precision-engineered products used across aerospace, defense, semiconductor, energy, and other highly regulated industries.

This is a hands‑on technical role focused on manufacturing process ownership, material performance, process stability, product quality, and continuous improvement across production operations.

The successful candidate will act as the technical owner for assigned manufacturing and process areas, supporting both current production and new product development. This role will involve troubleshooting manufacturing issues, improving process performance, supporting R&D activity, and working closely with production, quality, supply chain, finance, and maintenance teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as technical owner for assigned manufacturing and process areas
• Develop, implement, and maintain process specifications, work instructions, and equipment controls
• Monitor and audit product and process performance to ensure quality standards, material properties, and workmanship requirements are met
• Support R&D efforts for new products, materials, alloys, and manufacturing processes
• Assist with production planning, equipment utilisation, scheduling, and throughput improvements
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles
• Identify root causes of process, material, or quality issues using data analysis and corrective action methods
• Support capital planning, equipment layout, installation, and manufacturing process integration
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Finance, Production, and Quality teams on raw material requirements, rework decisions, and process improvements
• Participate in APQP activity, including manufacturing method development, cost estimates, and tooling requirements
• Improve safety across manufacturing operations by identifying ergonomic and process risks
• Troubleshoot equipment and process issues in collaboration with maintenance and production teams

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering or a related technical field
• 5+ years’ experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of process control, material properties, and manufacturing methods
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies preferred
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multiple departments
• Detail‑oriented with strong planning and time management ability

Preferred Experience

• Metal powder processing
• Thermal mechanical processing of metals
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, semiconductor, energy, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment

This role will involve time in both office and manufacturing environments. The successful candidate must be comfortable working around manufacturing conditions including noise, temperature variation, dust, and required PPE.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to work with advanced materials used across aerospace, defense, semiconductor, energy, and other mission-critical industries
• High‑impact role with ownership of manufacturing processes, quality, and continuous improvement
• Exposure to new product development, process optimisation, and advanced manufacturing projects
• Collaborative culture focused on accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and 401(k) from day one