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Composite Material Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

QinetiQ US

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

X Energy LLC

Graphite Materials Manager

Rockville, MD · On-site

... material qualifications. * Manage the work of the team using engineering tools, including ... Graphite - Experience with nonmetallic materials behavior (e.g. ceramic / composite / graphite ...

New

L3HHCM20

Manufacturing Technician B

Ashburn, VA · On-site

Use various adhesives (epoxy, RTV, etc.) to bond a variety of materials (composite, metal, or ... Work in a team setting collaborating with manufacturing, planning and engineering. * Moving ...

Electra

Airframe Design Engineer

Manassas, VA

$92K - $112K/yr

Work with structural requirements, material selections, and design criteria in support of ... Familiarity with composite manufacturing processes such as AFP, infusion, or hand layup

QinetiQ

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

L3 Harris

Manufacturing Technician B

Ashburn, VA

$22.84 - $42.55/hr

Use various adhesives (epoxy, RTV, etc.) to bond a variety of materials (composite, metal, or ... Work in a team setting collaborating with manufacturing, planning and engineering. * Moving ...

QinetiQ

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

QinetiQ US

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

QinetiQ

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

QinetiQ US

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

QinetiQ US

Mechanical Engineer I

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Select materials, structures, hardware suitable for application in the System. * Develop and ... Composite and/or Aluminum design and/or fabrication experience * Proficient with analysis tools ...

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All JobsComposite Material Engineer JobsComposite Material Engineer Jobs in Washington

Composite Material Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$69.7K

$116.7K

$173.6K

How much do composite material engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for composite material engineer in Washington is $116,731.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,200.00 and $145,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a composite material engineer do?

A Composite Material Engineer specializes in the design, development, and testing of materials made from two or more constituent materials with different properties. These engineers work to create materials that are stronger, lighter, or more durable than traditional materials for use in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction. Their responsibilities include selecting appropriate materials, conducting simulations and tests, and collaborating with product designers to ensure that the final composite material meets all performance and safety standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a composite material engineer?

To thrive as a Composite Material Engineer, you typically need a degree in materials science or engineering, with a strong grasp of composite mechanics, material selection, and fabrication processes. Familiarity with CAD software, finite element analysis (FEA) tools, and industry standards such as ASTM or ISO is essential, along with certifications like Six Sigma being advantageous. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help engineers collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and convey technical concepts clearly. These competencies are crucial for designing innovative, high-performance composite materials and ensuring their successful application in industries like aerospace, automotive, and construction.

What are some common challenges that composite material engineers face when working on multidisciplinary teams?

Composite Material Engineers often collaborate closely with design, manufacturing, and testing teams to develop advanced materials for various applications. A common challenge is effectively communicating complex material properties and fabrication constraints to colleagues from different engineering backgrounds. Balancing performance requirements with cost, manufacturability, and timelines also requires strong problem-solving skills and flexibility. Successful engineers in this role are proactive in seeking feedback, clarifying technical details, and fostering open communication to ensure project goals are met efficiently.

What is the difference between Composite Material Engineer vs Materials Scientist?

AspectComposite Material EngineerMaterials Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science, Mechanical, or Aerospace EngineeringBachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and test composite materials in labs and manufacturing settingsResearch and analyze material properties in labs, often focusing on fundamental science
Industry UsageUsed in aerospace, automotive, and sports equipment industries for product developmentApplied in research institutions, academia, and industries for material innovation

Composite Material Engineers focus on designing and testing composite materials for practical applications, while Materials Scientists conduct fundamental research on material properties. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds but differ in their focus and work environment.

Composite Material Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Composite Material Engineer job openings in Washington as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $116,731 per year, or $56.1 per hour.

NIST PREP Senior Research Fellow in Materials Science and Rheology of Complex Polymeric and Composit

Gaithersburg, MD • On-site

Southeastern Universities Research Association
11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Southeastern Universities Research Associationexternal

$75K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.
Research Title: Materials science and rheology of complex polymeric and composite materials
The work will entail: The Materials Measurement Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking a Materials Scientist to lead metrology development in rheology, thermal analysis, and structure-property relationships for complex polymeric and composite materials. Candidate will conduct high-level, independent research, translating cutting-edge measurements into industry-relevant metrics, reference methods/materials, and standards.
U.S. Citizen Preferred
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
  • Design and execute rheological characterization of complex fluids and soft solids
  • Lead thermal and thermomechanical characterization
  • Characterize and model reactive/curing systems
  • Build structure-property insights through multimodal characterization
  • Author publications and present research to stakeholders

Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in polymer science, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Expertise in rheology, including advanced techniques such as orthogonal superposition rheology and large amplitude oscillatory shear rheology.
  • Experience with thermal analysis (DSC and at least one of DMA/TGA/TMA/CTE/thermal conductivity methods), including calibration/validation.
  • Solid background in cure kinetics, chemorheology, and polymer polymer physics.
  • Experience with additive manufacturing (extrusion-based and vat photopolymerization)
  • Strong quantitative/data skills (e.g., Matlab/Python/Origin/JMP) for processing large datasets, fitting models, and producing publication-quality figures.
  • Track record of technical writing (peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, SOPs) and communicating results to mixed audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead projects, mentor students/postdocs, and coordinate cross-functional collaborations.
  • Ability to work on-site in a laboratory setting in Gaithersburg, MD and meet all safety/training requirements.

Privacy Act StatementAuthority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)
Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate the administrative functions of the PREP Program.
Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated. By applying to a CHIPS-funded PREP opportunity, you also acknowledge that participation in the project requires signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to beginning any work.
SURA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, religion, or sexual orientation. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.
PREP0004199

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