Senior Engineer - SRM Expert presso Karman Space & Defense

SUMMARY

We’re building flight qualified, filament wound composite SRM cases (cases, nozzles, exit cones) and need a hands-on manufacturing SME to take our winding, bonding, and cure processes from development to rate production. You’ll own special processes end to end in an AS9100/Nadcap environment and lead scaleup, qualification, and yield.

ABOUT US

Karman Space & Defense provides concept-to-production solutions for mission-critical systems on spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, hypersonics, and integrated defense systems. We believe that solving the industry’s most complex and mission-critical challenges requires relentless determination and a willingness to push the boundaries of possibility.  Karman Space & Defense brings to bear unparalleled production capabilities, unmatched engineering expertise, and unflinching analysis to render the impossible, possible.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement*

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Stand up a production ready filament winding cell and lead process qualification for SRM cases. 
• Define and control critical process parameters: fiber tension, resin content, winding angles, compaction, cure profiles, exotherm management, Tg validation, and post cure. 
• Own tooling/mandrels: collapsible/soluble/expandable mandrels, bladder tooling, extraction plans, polar boss/insert integration, end closure features. 
• Author and maintain special process documentation: PFMEA, control plans, work instructions/SOPs, operator certification, SPC dashboards. 
• Lead surface prep & bonding (liners/insulation/inhibitors), primers/adhesives, and environmental controls (dew point/humidity). 
• Direct NDT & proof/burst testing (UT, radiography; hydro/pneumatic) and chair MRB for composite defects. 
• Build material allowables & equivalency (coupon/element matrix, Bbasis per CMH17) and manage supplier/lot acceptance. 
• Drive rate readiness: capacity modeling, takt, OEE baseline, staffing, and capex business cases (winders, autoclaves, cutting/kitting). 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE 

• 10+ years manufacturing filament wound composite pressure vessels/SRM cases for flight hardware, from process development to production. 
• Mastery of wet winding & towpreg, winder programming, cut/park strategies, compaction, domes/hoop/helix architecture. 
• Deep experience with resin systems & cure (epoxy/phenolic), autoclave vs out of autoclave, exotherm control, Tg/post cure. 
• Proven authorship of PFMEA, control plans, SPC; successful special process audits (AS9100/Nadcap). 
• Handson with NDI modalities and proof/burst test campaigns; MRB leadership. 
• U.S. Person under ITAR; Secret clearance preferred. 

NICE TO HAVE:

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: No travel required for this position. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: As a federal contractor, Karman Space & Defense is committed to compliance with all federal employment eligibility requirements. We participate in E-Verify, a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. As an E-Verify employer, federal compliance mandates that we require documentation to verify your identity and employment authorization upon hire.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Karman is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; citizenship status; uniform servicemember status; or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.