Materials Engineer

Materials Engineer

K 's National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the intelligence and national security communities. In this position, your work will have a profound impact on the country's most critical role – protecting our national security.

K  National Security Solutions is seeking a motivated and talented Senior Materials Engineer to join our team in Chantilly, Virginia and to support a major U.S. Government organization responsible for the acquisition, integration, and operation of proliferated satellite constellations. The selected candidate will provide technical expertise in optical systems and advanced materials supporting spacecraft and payload development. This role would augment existing systems engineering capabilities by providing deeper insight into material selection, optical performance considerations, and environmental survivability for space systems.

The candidate will work as part of an integrated Government and contractor team delivering resilient, scalable space capabilities in support of national security missions.

• Provide technical support related to the selection of materials, optical components, and coatings.
• Lead small-group project teams to propose, select, qualify, and test metals and composites for Electro-Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar space vehicles.
• Assess contractor designs for material performance in space environments for thermal, radiation, and contamination performance.
• Support anomaly investigations related to material or optical performance.
• Advise on trade studies involving materials, manufacturing processes, and performance impacts.
• Collaborate with payload, mechanical, and systems engineers to ensure material decisions align with mission requirements.
• Perform Materials and Processes (M&P) technical engineering assignments.
• Troubleshoot problems and work with contractors to find innovative solutions.
• Prepare technical and progress reports on assigned tasks, prepare specifications, evaluate suppliers, and analyze test reports.
• Contribute to system documentation, reviews, and decision briefings for Government leadership.
• Document, develop and deliver analyses, recommendations, plans, reports, and briefings to the Government.
• Support the development and integration of automated test solutions and continuous improvement in software design and architecture.

• Location:
  
  On-Site
• Travel Requirements:
  Minimal (less than 25%) travel to contractor facilities, test sites, or launch locations.
• Working Hours:
  
  Flexible. Standard Government work hour support and surge support during integration and launch phases.

• Citizenship:
  Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
• Clearance:
  Active TS/SCI clearance (with current polygraph).
• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree in materials engineering, or a related STEM technical discipline. Specific contract requirements regarding education and experience will prevail.
• Relevant
  
  Experience:
  
  Demonstrated 8+ years of experience in materials engineering.

• Education:
  
  Master's or Ph.D. degree in materials engineering or a related STEM technical discipline.
• Relevant Ground
  
  Experience:
  
  Demonstrated 10+ years of experience supporting materials engineering is preferred.
• Familiarity with JIRA and Confluence.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're excited about making a significant impact in the field of space defense and working on projects that matter, we encourage you to apply and join our team at K . Let's shape the future together.