Materials Process Engineer

Short Description

Position Overview

The Material & Process Engineer plays a pivotal role in maintaining, improving, and advancing Triumph Interiors’ core composite, film, scrim, and laminate technologies.

Acting as a direct shadow and designated successor to the Tech Fellow, the incumbent will undergo targeted technical development to ensure seamless knowledge transfer and future continuity of technical leadership. This individual will balance hands-on material and process engineering responsibilities with strategic product development, customer interface, and regulatory oversight across cover film laminate product lines.

Primary Job Objectives

1. Maintain the Current Product Line: Manage component/material obsolescence, update technical documentation, and ensure ongoing regulatory/compliance alignment.

2. Improve Current Product Line: Drive continuous process improvement, execute margin enhancement strategies, and optimize strategic material sourcing (films, scrims, adhesives, and coatings).

3. Develop New Products: Research, design, and qualify next-generation materials and processes to satisfy emerging customer needs and penetrate new aerospace and aerospace adjacent markets.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Technical Fellowship Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer (Shadow Role)

• Work in close alignment with the Tech Fellow to absorb institutional knowledge regarding R&D polymer chemistry, adhesive formulations, web handling, and advanced lamination/coating processes.
• Progressively take ownership of Subject Matter Expert (SME) responsibilities related to Fire Retardant Materials and Processes, FAA directives, and OEM standards.
• Develop standardized engineering design guides, material selection criteria, and best practices to preserve organizational knowledge and support future product development.
• Participate alongside the Tech Fellow in intellectual property (IP) reviews, supporting patent filings, maintenance, and technical documentation.

2. Product Maintenance & Regulatory Compliance

• Manage material obsolescence and identify/qualify alternate raw materials (resins, films, fibers, adhesives) to prevent supply chain disruptions.
• Material risk assessments and long-term lifecycle planning for critical raw materials, including second source strategies and supply chain resilience.
• Ensure full compliance of technical data and components with regulatory standards, including FAA certification requirements, OEM REACH protocols, and Export Control/ITAR guidelines.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex customer issues requiring advanced engineering analysis and resolution.
• Maintain and update Bills of Materials (BOMs), Technical Data Sheets (TDS), and manufacturing process specifications.

3. Process Optimization & Material Sourcing

• Apply advanced lamination, coating, and web-handling principles (e.g., gravure lamination) to optimize production yields, line speeds, and bond strength consistency.
• Lead margin enhancement initiatives and process cost reduction projects through yield improvement, scrap reduction, and strategic vendor material sourcing.
• Support strategic capital investment planning (i.e. Laboratory capability improvements required to support future technologies)
• Troubleshoot complex manufacturing process issues on the shop floor and lead root cause / corrective action (RCCA) investigations for early-life product failures.

4. New Product & Market Development

• Lead project-level execution for new product introduction (NPI), from raw material selection through qualification, testing, and commercial launch.
• Evaluate and implement emerging material technologies and manufacturing processes to improve product performance, manufacturability, and competitiveness.
• Formulate and execute engineering test plans and test reports for qualification of aerospace interior and aerospace adjacent markets composite systems and insulation laminates.
• Collaborate with customer engineering counterparts (e.g., Boeing, Airbus, Embraer) and internal Business Development teams to translate market requirements into technical material specifications.
• Establish and maintain long-term technology roadmap, along with customer requirements, emerging materials and manufacturing capabilities.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Engineering (Materials Science, Chemical, Plastics/Polymers, Mechanical) or related technical discipline.

Experience Level:

o For Grade ENMPIC3_06: Minimum 3-5 years of experience in engineering, material development, or process engineering within a web-processing or composites environment.

o For Grade ENMPIC4_07: Minimum 6-8+ years of progressive engineering experience, including demonstrated success in aerospace material qualification and NPI management.

Required Skills & Technical Competencies

• Continuous Web Processing Converting, Coating & Lamination Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of web handling equipment, gravure or thermal lamination, and liquid/film adhesive application.
• Aerospace Qualification & Testing: Familiarity with executing engineering test plans, statistical data analysis, and regulatory qualification standards (FAA/EASA flame, smoke, and toxicity requirements).
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multi-faceted technical projects, maintain timelines, and coordinate cross-functionally between Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to articulate complex technical concepts across organizational levels, external vendors, and OEM customers.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Hands-on experience in polymer chemistry, adhesive formulation, or textile coating techniques.
• Knowledge of intellectual property processes (patent searching, writing disclosures, provisional patent processes).
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodology, or Design of Experiments (DOE).

Working Conditions & Travel

Work Environment: Primary office environment located within the Taylorsville, NC facility, with routine presence on the manufacturing floor for trials, troubleshooting, and production support.

Physical Demands: Standard office environment tasks combined with active manufacturing plant interactions. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when on the shop floor.

Travel Requirements: Willingness to travel up to 15-20% (domestic and international) for vendor evaluation, customer technical alignment, and technical conferences.