Entry Level Materials Science Engineering Jobs in Tennessee

At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT's technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
Welcome to BWXT
We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth and collaboration. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you'll find opportunities to challenge yourself, learn from seasoned experts, and contribute to nuclear innovation. We require a diverse range of skills to support our work in the markets that drive our business and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and life stages who are passionate about making a difference.
Position Overview:
As a Process Engineer, you will play a key role in evaluating, improving, and supporting manufacturing processes within assigned work centers and work cells. Your work will ensure material integrity, processing reliability, and product performance across a range of metals and specialty alloys. This role is highly collaborative, working closely with engineering, operations, and quality teams to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent materials processing. You will help drive continuous improvement efforts, support root-cause investigations, and shape material-related standards across the organization.
Location:
On-site in Jonesborough, Tennessee
Your Day-to-Day as a Process Engineer:
• Assess manufacturing processes to understand how material properties, behavior, and processing parameters influence product performance and manufacturability.
• Monitor Quality Notifications and partner with engineers to identify material-related failure modes, deviations, or property variances, generating next actions to prevent recurrence.
• Evaluate tooling, fixturing, and material-handling requirements to ensure proper processing, dimensional stability, and material integrity.
• Identify gaps in material specifications, testing requirements, certifications, and supplemental data for work scopes.
• Work directly with operators to assess shift performance and ensure proper handling of material sensitivities such as heat input, deformation, machining behavior, and environmental controls.
• Provide Engineering & Technical Services (E&TS) support to ensure material-readiness actions are completed.
• Review past work scopes and incorporate lessons learned related to material performance, process-material interactions, and specification compliance.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to standardize material-sensitive instructions across product lines for consistent processing.
• Develop supplemental documentation such as material handling guidelines, process windows, setup drawings, and photo instructions.
• Use root-cause analysis techniques to investigate material-related defects, recurring nonconformances, microstructural concerns, and process-driven property variations.
• Interpret complex data sets, identify patterns, and apply statistical reasoning to highlight trends and improvement opportunities.
• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on material flow, processing reliability, yield enhancement, and scrap/rework reduction.
• Collaborate with Operations Managers, Engineering Product Teams, and supporting groups to define or reorganize work centers based on material-processing needs, new materials, or new equipment integration.
Required Qualifications:
• Strong communication skills and an interest in working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and quality teams.
• Proficiency with MRP systems and Microsoft Office programs.
• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (Materials Science preferred).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in process engineering, materials engineering, or manufacturing involving critical material requirements.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Security Clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in manufacturing environments involving metals, specialty alloys, or complex material systems.
• Advanced understanding of material behavior, microstructure, and process/material interactions.
• Master's degree is a plus.
What We Offer:
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to promote a healthy work-life balance (as applicable for the role).
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs and continuing education support.
• An inclusive atmosphere that celebrates new perspectives and supports collaboration across generations.
• The opportunity to contribute to mission-driven work that shapes the future of energy.
• Continuous learning and training opportunities to grow throughout your career.
Pay: $76,000 - $119,000
The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $76,000 and $119,000 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.