Senior R&D Spinning Engineer

Hexcel Corporation; Decatur (AL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hexcel Corporation in Decatur, AL, is seeking a Senior R&D Spinning Engineer to serve as the technical expert for spinning solution technology and manufacturing performance. The role leads projects from lab development through pilot-scale to production, emphasizing safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship.

You will influence cross-functional teams, drive innovation, and collaborate with scientists, technicians, and operators to scale R&D innovations into cost-effective

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Experience with industrial synthetic fiber spinning/extrusion using DMSO-based solution spinning.
• Typically 10-15+ years of progressive experience in fiber spinning, polymer processing, precursor manufacturing, carbon fiber production, advanced materials, or related process technologies.
• Willing to be hands-on with pilot equipment and work collaboratively with scientists, technicians, and operators to solve problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead business-aligned projects that develop new spinning processes and precursor fibers from lab to pilot-scale to production, ensuring safety, regulatory, change management, and environmental compliance.
• Serve as the technical subject matter expert in spinning solution technology, process capability, and manufacturing performance.
• Streamline technology development to reduce time-to-market for new products.
• Drive capital projects, reliability initiatives, and safety programs to ensure smooth operations.
• Influence technical direction across R&D, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Operations.

Skills

Fiber spinning

Polymer processing

Precursor manufacturing

Scale-up

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

DMSO-based spinning

Pilot equipment

Job description

Join a team that is shaping the future of carbon fiber technology. As a Senior R&D Spinning Engineer, you will be the technical expert for critical manufacturing and development technology.

You will independently lead complex, high-impact initiatives that advance spinning capability, solve challenging technical problems, improve product performance, and drive innovation from concept through commercialization.

This role is intended for an experienced technical engineer with deep expertise in fiber spinning, polymer processing, or advanced materials manufacturing who is recognized for delivering business results, influencing across functions, and translating technical excellence into competitive advantage.

This role is based in Decatur, AL. Schedule options are flexible, we can support a traditional 5/40 schedule or 9/80 schedule with some remote work.

What you will do:

• Lead business-aligned projects that develop new spinning processes and precursor fibers from the lab to pilot-scale to production, ensuring all safety, regulatory, change management, and environmental compliance requirements are met
• Serve as the technical subject matter expert in spinning solution technology, process capability, and manufacturing performance.
• Streamline technology development to reduce time-to-market for new products.
• Drive small and large capital projects, reliability initiatives, and safety programs that ensure smooth and efficient operations.
• Utilize your knowledge of scientific principles, industry practices, and advanced spinning technologies to drive programs forward. Stay abreast of technical literature and develop your areas of interest, while fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
• Solve complex technical challenges by evaluating feasibility, risk, technical tradeoffs, and business impact and work with cross functional teams to integrate innovations into production.
• Provide technical leadership for new product introduction, new technology introduction (NTI), and process scale-up initiatives.
• Influence technical direction and decision-making across R&D, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Operations organizations.
• Utilize your knowledge of scientific principles, industry practices, and advanced spinning technologies to drive programs forward. Stay abreast of technical literature and develop your areas of interest.
• Travel up to 15% of the time.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline required.
• Experience with industrial synthetic fiber spinning/extrusion using DMSO-based solution spinning is required.
• Typically, 10-15+ years of progressive experience in fiber spinning, polymer processing, precursor manufacturing, carbon fiber production, advanced materials, or related process technologies.
• Demonstrated track record of scaling R&D innovations into cost-effective production processes.
• Willing to be hands-on with pilot equipment and work collaboratively with scientists, technicians, and operators to solve problems.

Eligible candidates must be a: U.S. citizen, U.S. national, person lawfully admitted for permanent residence, temporary resident under sections 210(a) or 245(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, person admitted in refugee status, or person granted asylum. Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) is a global leader in advanced composites technology, a leading producer of carbon fiber, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry.

Hexcel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected class.

With our strong investment in research and development and our culture of continuous improvement, Hexcel is the industry leader in the manufacturing of composite materials and industrial fabrics. We invite you to join the Hexcel team at various manufacturing sites, sales offices and R&T centers around the globe. Become a part of the "strength within."