Position Overview As our Composite Engineer and Composites Team Lead, you will guide all composite design, development, analysis, and fabrication strategy for the BWXT portion of the DUECE centrifuge program. You will develop composite structures for prototype, demonstrator, and production hardware, collaborating across mechanical, materials, manufacturing, and test teams in a high‑security DOE/NNSA environment. This role requires strong depth in composites, structural behavior, laminate theory, process development, and configuration control.
Location
On-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Q Clearance Required)
- Your Day to Day as a Composite Engineer
- Lead composite design, analysis, and development, owning all composite structure deliverables.
- Develop laminate schedules and conduct structural evaluations under mechanical and thermal loads.
- Perform FEA tasks including linear analysis, buckling assessments, failure mode evaluation, and correlation.
- Drive composite process development including layup planning, cure cycles, AFP/ATL programming, and resin infusion strategies.
- Lead trade studies supporting materials selection, structural optimization, and requirements development.
- Coordinate composite manufacturing with internal fabrication teams and external suppliers.
- Support autoclave operations, layup troubleshooting, rework instructions, and shop-floor decision making.
- Contribute to NDI approaches, test planning, data analysis, and corrective action methodologies.
- Prepare documentation for design reviews including PDR, CDR, and manufacturing readiness packages.
- Maintain configuration control, engineering documentation, and compliance with structured engineering processes.
- Provide mentorship and leadership as the Composite Team Lead, ensuring technical quality and knowledge development.
- Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
- 10+ years experience with composite materials, aerospace composite structures, or advanced composite components (or 5+ years with MS).
- Experience with composite laminate design, ply-book development, and multi-physics structural evaluation.
- Hands-on experience with autoclave layup, AFP/ATL, RTM/VARTM, or resin infusion manufacturing techniques.
- Proficiency with CAD/FEA tools such as CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Abaqus, ANSYS, or Nastran.
- Ability to generate high-quality engineering documentation.
- Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting NASA, aerospace launch structures, or defense composite programs.
- Experience with cryogenic composites, pressure vessels, or centrifuge hardware.
- Familiarity with NASA/MSFC standards or government-regulated environments.
- Experience with NDI methods such as UT, thermography, or X-ray.
- Experience scripting automation or analysis tools (Python, MATLAB).
- Experience with composite tooling, automated layup systems, or production environments.
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing, SPC, PFMEA, and corrective action workflows.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and benefits.
- Flexible work schedules and paid time off (as applicable).
- Professional development, mentorship, and continuing education support.
- Inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives.
- Opportunities to support mission-critical national security programs.
- Continuous technical learning and career advancement opportunities.
Pay: $99,410 - $157,000
The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $99,410 and $157,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.
As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities (“BWXT” or the “Company”) complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.
All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.
BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.
BWX Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (BWXT) is not responsible for and does not accept any liability for fees or other costs associated with resumes or candidates presented by recruiters or employment agencies, unless a binding, written recruitment agreement between BWXT and the recruiter or agency exists prior to the presentation of candidates or resumes to BWXT and includes the specific services, job openings, and fees to be paid (“Agreement”). BWXT may consider any candidate for whom a recruiter or agency has submitted an unsolicited resume and explicitly reserves the right to hire such candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency unless an Agreement is in place prior to presentation and such Agreement explicitly encompasses the job opening for which such fees or costs are sought. An email, verbal or other informal contact with any person within BWXT will not create a binding agreement. Agencies or recruiters without an Agreement are directed not to contact any hiring managers of BWXT with recruiting inquiries or resumes. Recruiters and agencies interested in partnering with BWXT may contact BWXT’s Talent Acquisition team at talent_acquisition@bwxt.com.
