Composite Manufacturing Engineer

The Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at Montana State University invites applications for a full-time position with primary responsibilities in the development of innovative carbon fiber materials.

MSU has been awarded a sizeable multi-year DOD contract to develop stretch broken carbon fiber for military rotorcraft. This position would be as one of the technical team leads, executing on the contract and developing the untapped potential of stretch broken carbon fiber. Duties include: determining the best technique of stretch breaking; defining and executing basic autoclave and other processes for part manufacture; defining and executing test plans to determine the material properties of the stretch broken fibers; assist with the determination of suitable applications of the stretch broken material; and manufacturing prototypes demonstrating the benefits of stretch broken carbon fiber.
This position would not only work with an accomplished, full-time development team but would also be a mentor to university students and contribute positively to the mission of Montana State University. As such, we seek individuals who work professionally and effectively with diverse individuals, and who possess excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
Because increasing the diversity of the engineering profession is one of our strategic priorities, women and underrepresented minorities in engineering are particularly encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

Function as primary technical lead on developing stretch broken carbon fiber processing methods for parts.
Apply a comprehensive knowledge of composites manufacturing to develop carbon fiber parts, components, and prototypes.
Define testing protocol of carbon materials, coupons, and parts per industry standards.
Determine applications for stretch broken carbon fiber materials and produce prototypes.
Execute on the deliverables and milestones of the DOD contract including writing relevant report sections.
Coordinate activities of development team, faculty, and students to meet contract milestones and goals.
Provide support for in-process control and quality control testing for other program Tasks as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering.
Multiple years of experience working in a relevant environment.
Proficient in basic strength of materials design and analysis procedures.
Experience or familiarity with a broad range of composite manufacturing processes including bagging, hand layup, autoclave curing, fiber placement and automated forming methods.
Effective written and oral communication skills to convey complex ideas and present information to individuals and groups.
Must be flexible and willing to take on varied tasks to meet contract goals.
5 years minimum of experience working in a relevant environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

Laminate analysis training and experience
Tooling design and manufacture experience

CAD design, including SolidWorks.
Experience in project and program management.
Demonstrated ability to work with and engage with diverse team members within and outside of engineering disciplines.

The Successful Candidate Will
The Successful Candidate will:

Be a hands-on mentor who will roll up their sleeves to achieve goals and work side by side team members to accomplish the tasks at hand.
Have a strong composites background with a broad understanding of composite manufacturing fundamentals.
Be an out-of-the-box thinker who develops creative ideas to innovate on standard processes and techniques.
Be highly flexible and collaborative; one who listens and incorporates team members' input when creating solutions to complex problems.
Have the potential to provide leadership and to assume responsibility for organizational and program activities.
Have the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, students, and the engineering industry.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Continuation of employment is contingent upon availability of funding.This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.Work is predominately performed in an office and laboratory setting.

This position has supervisory duties?
Yes