Carbon Fiber Composites Design & Process Development Engineer

Napakiak Ventures • Full-time • Oak Ridge, Tennessee • 3w ago

Company Overview:
Napakiak Environmental and Construction (NEC) is a leading provider of information technology, technology development, and environmental and construction services, specializing in Federal and Commercial projects. Our company is committed to delivering high-quality solutions that meet stringent regulatory standards and client requirements.

Position Overview:
We are seeking a highy motivated and experienced Carbon Fiber Composites Design & Process Development Engineer to lead the design, analysis, and manufacturing process improvements of carbon fiber composite and parts and vessels. In this role, you will drive both research and high-volume production initiatives, bridging the gap between innovative concept development and efficient manufacturing for advanced composite systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Design and develop carbon fiber composite parts and vessels, ensuring optimal strength-to-weight rations and durability.
Perform mechanics of materials and structural analysis of composite systems using ANSYS or other advanced simulation tools.
Experience in translating layup design into bulk anisotropic composite property estimates.
Develop, validate, and optimize composite manufacturing processes - from tooling and fixture design to layup, curing, and machining - to meet rigorous quality and throughput goals.
Lead R&D initiatives as well as high-volume production efforts, seamlessly transitioning concepts to production-scale applications.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including design, materials science, quality, and production to select composite systems and validate performance.
Create detailed work instructions, process documentation, and quality protocols that ensure consistency and adherence to industry standards.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, applying lean manufacturing and statistical process control methodologies.
Mentor junior engineers and technicians, and provide technical leadership during process troubleshooting and corrective action implementation.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree (BS) in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a minimum of 10 years' experience, or a Master's degree (MS) or higher with at least 5 years' relevant experience.
Demonstrated expertise in carbon fiber composite design and the mechanics of composite materials.
Proven experience in structural analysis, particularly with simulation tools such as ANSYS or equivalent.
Extensive background in developing and improving composite manufacturing processes in both R&D and high throughput production environments.
Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced understanding of composite processing techniques (e.g., autoclave curing, resin infusion, precision layup) and quality assurance methodologies.
Experience with CAD/CAM software for tooling and fixture development.
Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles or Six Sigma practices.
A proactive, hands-on approach with strong analytical and technical aptitude.

Napakiak Environmental and Construction (NEC) is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.