About the Role

Apex is looking for a Materials and Processes (M&P) Engineer who will serve as the company technical focal for metallic materials and associated manufacturing processes used on spacecraft, propulsion systems, mechanisms, structures, avionics hardware, and flight-support equipment essential for our satellite operations. The M&P engineer will define product requirements, inform material and design trades, perform analyses and testing on materials, drive test campaigns, and develop a materials database and usage list. You will validate decisions through prototypes and build and qualify flight hardware as we scale volume.

Responsibilities:

• Own material selection, qualification, process requirements, design guidance, supplier controls, and technical disposition for typical Aerospace metallics

• Establish and own internal materials and process specifications covering material procurement, heat treatment, welding, brazing, soldering where applicable to structural hardware, machining, forming, surface finishing, plating, passivation, anodizing, chemical conversion coatings, electroless nickel, hard coatings, painting interfaces, cleaning, stress relief, additive manufacturing, and inspection and acceptance

• Develop and maintain an Approved Metallic Materials and Processes List, including approved alloys, tempers, product forms, specifications, suppliers, processes, design limitations, and qualification status

• Support definition of engineering requirements to develop, select, or recommend parts, materials, processes, manufacturing technologies, machinery, tools, and automation systems used in product design and manufacturing in accordance with contractual and regulatory obligations

• Support engineering design reviews and participate in failure analyses for metallic parts and processes

• Assist in supplier qualification activities and respond to routine supplier technical inquiries. Escalate complex supplier or production issues to senior management

• Perform analyses to characterize performance or determine causes of tool, material, part, or process failures. Recommend corrective actions for senior review

• Coordinate and support lab activities (metallography, hardness, tensile, NDT/NDI) and compile test data for interpretation and disposition

• Use project management practices to meet cost, technical, and schedule requirements for assigned tasks

• Support creation and revision of material/process specifications, work instructions, and test plans

• Support investigations of non-conformances and supplier deviations

• Collect evidence, perform basic root-cause analysis, and draft corrective action recommendations

• Maintain engineering records (test reports, engineering orders) and support configuration control and design reviews as required

• Communicate technical findings clearly to cross-functional teams and stakeholders

Requirements:

• U.S. Persons status is required as this position requires access to export-controlled data

• Bachelor’s in mechanical, materials, physics, aerospace, or relevant engineering

• 10+ years of industry experience demonstrating a strong foundation in materials science and engineering principles

• Engineering experience with qualifying typical Aerospace metallics (e.g. aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, specialty aerospace alloys, castings, forgings, extrusions, sheet and plate, bar and tubing, and additively manufactured metallic hardware)

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

• Capable of managing multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Experience

• Master’s in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, Polymers, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.

• Engineering experience with materials in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability manufacturing development lifecycle

• Deep understanding of aluminums, composites, stainless steels, adhesives, and thermal materials

• Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as welding, heat treatment, and plating

• Knowledge of fracture mechanics, corrosion control, fluid compatibility, statistics, and failure analysis

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What We Offer For Full-time Employees:

• Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create