ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Polymer Composite Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior plc

Composite Manufacturing Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$75K/yr

Coordinate with the Polymer/Metal 3D printing labs to integrate additive manufacturing solutions ... In addition to the above, Composite Manufacturing Engineers are to maintain an organized, clean and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPolymer Composite Engineer Jobs

Polymer Composite Engineer information

See salary details

$65K

$103.6K

$134K

How much do polymer composite engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for polymer composite engineer in the United States is $103,596.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,000.00 and $119,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Polymer Composite Engineers?

Polymer Composite Engineers are specialized professionals who design, develop, and test materials made from polymers (plastics) combined with other materials to create composites with enhanced properties. These engineers work to improve the strength, durability, and performance of materials used in industries like aerospace, automotive, construction, and sports equipment. Their role involves selecting suitable materials, understanding manufacturing processes, and ensuring that the final composites meet specific standards and requirements.

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

AspectPolymer Composite EngineerMaterials Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science, Chemistry, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, aerospace, automotive industriesResearch labs, industrial settings, academia, R&D departments
Industry UsageDesigning and testing composite materials for structural applicationsStudying material properties, developing new materials, analyzing failure modes

Polymer Composite Engineers focus on designing and testing composite materials used in industries like aerospace and automotive, while Materials Scientists study the properties and development of various materials. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often work in research or industrial labs, but their specific focus areas differ.

What are some common challenges faced by Polymer Composite Engineers during the product development cycle?

Polymer Composite Engineers often encounter challenges such as selecting the appropriate matrix and reinforcement materials to achieve desired mechanical properties while maintaining manufacturability and cost-effectiveness. Troubleshooting issues related to adhesion, void formation, and curing processes is also common, especially when scaling up from prototypes to full production. Additionally, engineers must work closely with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and quality assurance, to ensure that composite components meet strict regulatory and performance standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Polymer Composite Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Polymer Composite Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, composite mechanics, and manufacturing processes, typically supported by a degree in chemical, mechanical, or materials engineering. Familiarity with CAD software, finite element analysis (FEA), and industry standards like ASTM or ISO, as well as experience with testing and characterization equipment, is crucial. Strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are vital for developing innovative, reliable composite solutions and ensuring product quality from design through production.
More about Polymer Composite Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Polymer Composite Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Polymer Composite Engineer jobs are:
Polymer Composite Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer Composite Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,596 per year, or $49.8 per hour.
Advance Polymers and Multispectral Composites Researcher

Advance Polymers and Multispectral Composites Researcher

SURVICE Engineering Company

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD • On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted just now

Job description

Join Us in Making a Difference in the Lives of Those Defending Our Nation!

Why SURVICE?

Come join the SURVICE Engineering mission to protect, enhance, and enable those who defend the United States. Since 1981, we have supported the DoD community, as well as Homeland Security, advanced technologies, environmental, and commercial markets. Our employees have backgrounds in engineering, physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, acquisition, technical writing, training, and other technical and administrative fields. And many of our personnel have DoD and/or operational military experience. If you're looking for a challenging and rewarding career with a leading organization, come see what we can offer you!

Position

Advance Polymers and Multispectral Composites Researcher

  • Location: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
  • Security Clearance: Active Clearance or Eligible to Obtain - U.S. citizenship required
  • Salary: $100,000 - $120,000 Depending on Experience and Education
  • Travel: 5%
  • Benefits: SURVICE Engineering offers a total rewards package to include competitive salaries, comprehensive insurance options, paid time off, 401k, flexible spending, tuition reimbursement.

Position Summary

SURVICE Engineering is currently seeking a Advance Polymers and Multispectral Composites Researcher to support our Aberdeen Research Operation. You will accelerate your career and become an integral team member within the defense community.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

  • Design and processing of advanced polymers composites and investigating optical properties as a function of chemistry, structure, and processing conditions.
  • Synthesize and tailor surface functionality of tailored optical additives at-scale for integration into polymer composite materials.
  • Utilize spectroscopy and imaging systems to characterize UV, visible, infrared (IR) properties, and radio-frequency (RF) properties.
  • Develop/use scripts to efficiently automate experiments and collect/analyze test data.

Minimum Qualifications of Advance Polymers and Multispectral Composites Researcher
PhD in STEM related field and 3+ years of relevant experience. Exceptional candidates with less experience will be considered. Candidates are not required to possess all qualifications; if you possess some of the desired qualifications, please apply.

  • Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline.
  • Experience working in a research environment (educational experience allowable)
  • Experience processing and characterizing polymeric materials.
  • Experience with chemical synthesis of advanced micro/nano particles and tailored surface functionalization's.
  • Experience with Python to develop scripts and GUIs to automate experiments and result analysis.
  • Experience with material characterization and using spectroscopy to measure UV, visible, IR, and RF; familiarity with color measurements/analysis using CIELAB/L*a*b parameters is desired
  • Research experience involving polymer structure-property relationships, scalable polymer composite processing, surface patterning, and experiment automation is preferred.
  • SECRET Security Clearance.

About Us

SURVICE Engineering is a nationally recognized, single-source engineering service provider for Government and Industry organizations involved in all phases of the systems engineering process. Our employees are our most valuable asset, and they are proud to have supported the development, testing, analysis, and modeling and simulation (M&S) of many of the major U.S. air, land, and sea combat systems in the field today. They have also contributed their expertise to other vital national defense programs and technologies that involve survivability, cybersecurity, information technology/management, software engineering, unmanned aerial systems (UASs), and metrology/reverse engineering.


SURVICE Engineering is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Job Posted by ApplicantPro