Materials Manufacturing Engineer III

Materials Manufacturing Engineer III

Textron Systems Wilmington, MA is seeking a hands-on Composite Materials professional to support the development and production of advanced aerospace structures utilizing 3D woven, laminated, and resin-infused materials. This role operates at the intersection of engineering and manufacturing, with significant time spent on the shop floor and in the lab executing builds, refining processes, and conducting material testing. You will contribute to translating design requirements into repeatable manufacturing methods, troubleshooting defects, improving quality, yield, and throughput.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly hands-on, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, low-volume/high-mix setting while collaborating closely with engineering, quality, and production teams. You must be hands-on; comfortable working in lab and production environments and be a problem solver who can iterate quickly and make data-driven decisions.

About This Role:

• Work with design engineering to lead manufacturing development and production of advanced composite materials (3D woven, laminated, resin-infused systems).
• Translate material and design requirements into robust manufacturing processes and work instructions.
• Plan and execute material fabrication including layup, preforming, infusion (VARTM/RTM), and curing.
• Develop and optimize process parameters (resin systems, flow media, vacuum strategy, cure cycles).
• Design and support tooling for complex preforms and infusion setups.
• Perform hands-on builds, trials, and process validation on the shop floor.
• Develop and execute material test plans (mechanical, thermal, environmental).
• Analyze test data to characterize material properties and drive process improvements.
• Support qualification efforts (process qualification, first article support).
• Investigate defects (voids, dry spots, delamination) and lead root cause/corrective actions.
• Collaborate with design engineering on material selection, stack-ups, and DFM/DFA.
• Interface with suppliers for fibers, resins, and preforms; support material down select and qualification.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace/defense standards and specifications.
• Identify emerging manufacturing technologies and perform cost/benefit analysis for implementation.

Qualifications:

• Written and oral communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative, diverse team environment. Includes the ability to justify analytical results and effectively communicate recommendations to positively influence designs.
• Experience with 3D woven or complex preform architectures.
• Familiarity with aerospace qualification standards (CMH-17, ASTM, AMS, MIL specs).
• Experience with mechanical testing methods (tensile, compression, ILSS, fatigue, etc.).
• Knowledge of NDI/NDT methods (ultrasonic, CT scanning) for composites.
• Experience scaling processes from development to production.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis and material allowable development.
• Knowledge of DFX principles, including Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, and Cost.
• Knowledge of GD&T and the appropriate tolerances in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to analyze and understand technical drawings, Model Based Definition Files, preliminary bills of material, engineering sketches, CAD models, prototypes, specifications, and ad hoc requirements.
• Basic computer skills:
  Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Manufacturing specific computer skills: ERP and MRP (e.g. Oracle); PLM (e.g. Matrix); MES (e.g. Solumina) or equivalent.
• Experience with CAD software (UG NX).

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree required. The preferred degrees are Materials and Science Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 5 years' experience in composites or materials processing manufacturing or R&D environment.

How We Care:

At Textron Systems, our talented people make us successful. We promote an inclusive environment where we value individuality, differences and unique perspectives. Our company is committed to offering employees opportunities to grow and develop. Our benefits and compensation packages are designed to help our talented employees excel and achieve their goals,…