Materials and Process Engineer - Metallics

Materials and Process Engineer
- Metallics

Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA or Tulsa, OK or Denver, CO

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking an experienced Senior Materials and Process Engineer
- Metallics to lead the development, qualification, and implementation of metallic materials and manufacturing processes for next-generation spacecraft structures, propulsion systems, and flight hardware. This role is ideal for an engineer with deep expertise in aerospace metallic materials, joining technologies, process qualification, and manufacturing development who thrives in a fast-paced environment supporting both hardware development and flight production.

You will work closely with propulsion, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering teams to select, qualify, and optimize metallic materials and manufacturing processes that enable reliable, high-performance spacecraft systems. This highly collaborative role combines technical leadership, hands‑on engineering support, root cause analysis, and process development across the entire product lifecycle - from early development through flight production.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

• Lead the selection, development, qualification, and implementation of metallic materials and manufacturing processes for spacecraft structures, propulsion systems, and flight hardware
• Develop and qualify friction stir welding (FSW), welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, forming, additive manufacturing, and other metallic fabrication processes to support spacecraft production
• Provide technical leadership for materials selection, compatibility assessments, and manufacturing process development across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Provide technical expertise in the optimization and qualification of friction stir welding, electron beam welding, laser welding, TIG welding, and other advanced joining processes for flight-critical hardware
• Develop process specifications, material specifications, qualification plans, and manufacturing standards to support production and flight certification
• Investigate material failures, manufacturing anomalies, and nonconformances using root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies
• Support design reviews by providing guidance on material selection, manufacturability, structural integrity, and production readiness
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to improve production efficiency, process capability, repeatability, and hardware quality
• Support supplier qualification, material validation, and special process oversight to ensure compliance with aerospace standards
• Define and oversee mechanical testing, metallurgical evaluations, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and material characterization activities
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing quality, reduce risk, and improve cost and schedule performance
• Mentor junior engineers while serving as the technical authority for metallic materials and manufacturing processes
• Support spacecraft development, qualification, and production efforts in a dynamic, fast‑paced aerospace environment

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 10+ years of experience supporting metallic materials engineering and manufacturing processes in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries
• Experience developing and qualifying friction stir welding (FSW), electron beam welding, laser welding, TIG welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, or other metallic manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated expertise in metallic materials selection, qualification, and process development
• Strong knowledge of aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, and other aerospace metallic materials
• Experience developing and qualifying welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, or other…