Materials Science Engineer II (Mater006658)

Join the RBC - KAHR Bearing Legacy

With continual growth comes opportunity, and Kahr Bearing has an immediate opening for a Materials Science Engineer II.

Work Location: Kahr Bearing, 6950 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ. For the first six months, the position will report to and work from Sargent Aerospace & Defense, 5600 S. Coca-Cola Pl., Tucson, AZ, before transitioning to the Kahr Bearing facility.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Materials Science Engineer II to independently lead moderately complex materials and manufacturing-engineering activities supporting composite liner production and coating operations. The engineer owns assigned material and process projects from technical definition through evaluation, risk assessment, implementation, validation, and documentation. This role applies materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical principles, and manufacturing knowledge to select and qualify materials, resolve production problems, improve product performance, and establish reliable and cost-effective processes. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong materials expertise, independent judgment, cross-functional leadership, disciplined risk management, and the ability to mentor developing personnel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, qualification, implementation, and continuous improvement of composite materials, coating systems, and related manufacturing technologies.
• Establish material and process requirements based on performance, manufacturability, quality, safety, and operational objectives.
• Evaluate and recommend material systems, including composites, polymers, coatings, adhesives, and related technologies.
• Develop and execute material characterization plans, engineering tests, manufacturing trials, and qualification programs.
• Analyze technical data to assess material performance, process capability, failure modes, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead material and process improvement projects from technical definition through implementation, validation, and closure.
• Develop project plans, schedules, technical requirements, risk assessments, and resource estimates for assigned projects.
• Lead investigations of material failures, manufacturing defects, process escapes, and equipment-related issues using structured problem-solving and risk-assessment methodologies.
• Develop and approve material specifications, process documentation, qualification plans, technical reports, and engineering standards within delegated authority.
• Lead qualification of new materials, suppliers, equipment, tooling, and manufacturing processes, including source changes and obsolescence activities.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to technicians, trainees, and Engineer I personnel.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve technical, quality, safety, cost, and operational objectives while maintaining compliance with quality-system requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering curriculum with 2+ years prior relevant engineering experience.
• Engineering experience in composites, coatings, polymers, materials, chemical processing, manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• Must be a U.S. Person.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Composites Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Two or more years of relevant engineering experience in composites, coatings, polymers, materials, chemical processing, manufacturing engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• Advanced working knowledge of composite processing, polymer chemistry, coating technology, adhesion, surface preparation, rheology, cure behavior, and degradation mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience independently developing or improving materials systems and manufacturing processes.
• Experience planning and executing material evaluations, manufacturing trials, process qualifications, validation activities, or failure investigations.
• Ability to apply statistics, process capability methods, reliability methods, or design of experiments to technical problems.
• Experience leading cross-functional technical projects and providing guidance to technicians or less-experienced engineers.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, material requirements, specifications, and GD&T requirements.
• Experience with mechanical testing, microscopy, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, rheology, environmental conditioning, or other characterization methods.
• Experience with FEA, Mathcad or equivalent calculations, 3D CAD, ASME Y14.5 GD&T, tooling, fixtures, equipment, controls, and automation.
• Experience supporting capital-equipment planning, technical justification, acquisition, installation, acceptance, supplier qualification, or material obsolescence.
• Demonstrated ability to balance design intent, material performance, manufacturing capability, safety, cost, quality, and schedule.