Senior R&D Engineer, Ballistic Composites & Soft Armor

Solstice Advanced Materials; Colonial Heights (VA); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) match

Disability Insurance

Educational Assistance

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Solstice Advanced Materials is seeking a Lead R&D Engineer to drive the Spectra Shield ballistic materials program, focusing on soft body armor. You will oversee hands-on development and optimization, working with Marketing, Sales, and Technology to advance customer-facing solutions.

The role is based at Colonial Heights, VA with a hybrid schedule and reports to the General Manager. You will coordinate prototype development, collaborate with armor manufacturers and military R&D, and define key

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Polymers/Composite Materials, Materials Science or other related scientific or technical discipline
• 10+ years of experience with soft body armor materials, processing, ballistic and non-ballistic testing

Responsibilities

• Optimize composite processing guidelines for soft armor applications
• Hands-on design, lay-up, and equipment operation for part fabrication
• Coordinate prototype development including sample/test matrix, scheduling, and reporting
• Collaborate with armor manufacturers, military R&D organizations, and Program Offices to align specs
• Define material property linkages to end article performance and establish target protocols
• Identify emerging materials, processes, and techniques for roadmap planning
• Represent Solstice in customer meetings, trade shows, and technical conferences
• Provide technical oversight for quality resolution, manufacturing initiatives, and new product development
• Draft publications, white papers, solicitation responses, invention disclosures, and IP materials

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Polymers/Composite Materials, Materials Science or related

Job description

Solstice Advanced Materials is seeking a Lead R&D Engineer to drive the Spectra Shield ballistic materials program, focusing on soft body armor. You will oversee hands-on development and optimization, working with Marketing, Sales, and Technology to advance customer-facing solutions.

The role is based at Colonial Heights, VA with a hybrid schedule and reports to the General Manager. You will coordinate prototype development, collaborate with armor manufacturers and military R&D, and define key