Senior Materials Engineer — Defense & Space

GM; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

GM Defense is seeking a materials engineering leader to guide material selection, qualification, and application for integrated vehicles and space-relevant programs. You will ensure compliance with GMW/ASTM/ISO standards, drive robust and cost-effective designs, and manage materials- related risk across cross-functional teams, including suppliers and government customers.

The role emphasizes corrosion prevention, multi-material joints, and advanced materials for extreme environments, with hybrid

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in materials engineering in automotive, defense, or related industry.
• Strong knowledge of metallic materials (e.g., steels, aluminum alloys) and/or polymers/composites, including processing and property relationships.
• Experience with material characterization and testing (e.g., tensile, hardness, microstructure, corrosion, coatings).
• Familiarity with engineering standards (e.g., GMW, ASTM, ISO) and drawing/specification practices.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to lead cross-functional technical investigations.
• Experience applying materials engineering principles to automotive, defense, aerospace, or space systems, including understanding of how environment and mission profile drive material selection and qualification.
• Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).

Responsibilities

• Lead suppliers to timely execution of program work with perfection.
• Resolve highly sophisticated technical issues and conduct advanced research.
• Recommend alterations to development and design to improve quality of products and/or procedures.
• Own materials engineering decisions for assigned components/systems, including definition and maintenance of material specifications and drawings.
• Evaluate and approve alternate materials and coatings to meet performance, cost, and timing targets.
• Lead materials-related failure analysis, root cause investigation, and corrective actions for field, plant, and test issues.
• Support DREs and Design with DFMEA, DVP&R, and design reviews focusing on material risks, manufacturability, and corrosion/durability.
• Partner with suppliers on material qualification, PPAP, and ongoing quality/performance monitoring.
• Interpret and apply GMW/ASTM/ISO material and test standards; ensure documentation and data traceability.
• Provide guidance on corrosion prevention, coatings, and compatibility for multi-material joints and fastened assemblies.
• Document and communicate technical recommendations, test results, and lessons learned to stakeholders.
• Evaluate and qualify materials for extreme defense and space environments (e.g., high-g and blast loading, thermal cycling, vibration, vacuum/outgassing, radiation, and atomic oxygen).
• Interpret and apply DoD, MIL, and aerospace/space materials standards (e.g., MIL-STD/MIL-PRF, NASA material and process specifications) and ensure traceable compliance in material and process documentation.
• Support design and analysis of armor, survivability, thermal protection, and signature management solutions for GM Defense platforms.
• Develop and execute materials qualification and test plans with government customers, test facilities, and suppliers, including ground- or flight-representative configurations.
• Partner with suppliers to mature advanced materials and processes from prototype through production readiness for defense and space-relevant programs.

Skills

Materials engineering

Cross-functional teamwork

GMW/ASTM knowledge

Material characterization

Problem solving

Defense/space experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science or related field

Job description

GM Defense is seeking a materials engineering leader to guide material selection, qualification, and application for integrated vehicles and space-relevant programs. You will ensure compliance with GMW/ASTM/ISO standards, drive robust and cost-effective designs, and manage materials- related risk across cross-functional teams, including suppliers and government customers.

The role emphasizes corrosion prevention, multi-material joints, and advanced materials for extreme environments, with hybrid