Plastics & Composites Engineer

We are seeking a Plastics & Composites Engineer to support the design, development, and production of lightweight aerospace components using thermoplastics, thermosets, and fiber-reinforced composites.In this role, you'll partner with cross-functional teamsincluding design, manufacturing, quality, tooling, suppliers, and testingto ensure materials and processes meet performance, reliability, and certification requirements. This is a great opportunity for an engineer with hands-on experience in aerospace or high-performance manufacturing who are ready to take ownership of materials and process engineering initiatives.What You'll Do Support material selection and qualification for plastics, polymers, adhesives, and composite components Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, including layup, molding, curing, and bonding Participate in design reviews to ensure manufacturability, durability, and structural integrity Plan and execute material testing, process validation, and qualification activities Investigate material or production issues and drive root cause analysis and corrective actions Create and maintain process specifications, work instructions, and test documentation Collaborate with suppliers to ensure quality, capability, and process readiness What You Bring Bachelor's degree in Materials, Mechanical, Aerospace, Polymer Engineering, or related field 5+ years of experience in plastics, polymer, or composite engineering (aerospace strongly preferred) Hands-on experience with composite and plastic manufacturing processes (e.g., prepreg layup, RTM, injection molding, autoclave curing, adhesive bonding) Experience with material testing, process validation, and/or failure analysis Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills Preferred Qualifications Experience with aerospace components (e.g., interiors, ducting, radomes, fairings, secondary structures) Familiarity with industry standards such as AS9100, NADCAP, ASTM, SAE, or FAA requirements Working knowledge of SolidWorks or similar CAD tools Exposure to NDT/NDI methods (ultrasonic, tap test, thermography, X-ray) Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience