Composite Winding & Curing Engineer

The Composite Winding & Curing Engineer brings deep composites and winding expertise to the Texas plant, serving as the technical owner of COPV winding and curing processes and the primary resource for production stability, process improvement, and in-house capability building.About BlackwaveBlackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight-qualified, commercial off-the-shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight-ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas.More information at Blackwave.com and the procurement platform COPV.com.Role MissionThe mission of the Composite Winding & Curing Engineer is to ensure stable, high-quality COPV production at the winding station while continuously developing and improving winding and curing processes. The role bridges engineering development and production execution — translating technical know-how into practical, repeatable processes that deliver consistent output and support the long-term growth of composites expertise in Texas.Key ResponsibilitiesServe as the engineer of record for COPV winding and curing processes on-siteEnsure stable and consistent daily production at the winding stationTroubleshoot winding and curing process issues, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actionsDevelop and implement winding process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce scrapTranslate engineering development inputs into practical, documented production processesDefine, document, and maintain process parameters, work instructions, and quality standardsSupport the setup, operation, and optimization of winding and curing equipmentTrain and build composite winding knowledge within the Texas production teamCoordinate with the Team in Germany to bring the process expertise to TexasCoordinate with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure aligned executionContribute to the introduction of new winding strategies, materials, or equipmentCompetenciesTechnical Know-HowDegree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent (required)Hands-on experience with carbon fibre materials and their processing characteristics (required)Experience in composite design and engineering development (required)Experience with towpreg materials and filament winding processes (nice to have)Experience with robotically driven manufacturing processes (nice to have)Culture Add and AttitudeSolution-oriented mindset — focused on finding what works, not just identifying what doesn'tComfortable with uncertainty and change in a fast-moving production environmentOpen to learning and growing, both in technical depth and in new areasHands-on approach — present on the floor and engaged with the equipmentAble to teach and transfer knowledge clearly to operators and team membersClear, direct communicator across engineering and production teamsRequired QualificationsEducation and ExperienceBachelor's degree in Lightweight Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical fieldSeveral years of hands-on experience in composites manufacturing, with a focus on winding or similar processesProven experience in engineering development and technical documentationExperience working in structured, process-driven production environmentsLanguage SkillsEnglish is requiredSpanish or German are a plusWork ModelOn-site work is mandatoryWillingness to work closely with equipment and production teams on a daily basisOur current facility is located in Lockhart, Texas (near Austin/San Antonio)In mid-2026, Blackwave will relocate to a new site in the Port San Antonio aerospace hubEqual Opportunity EmployerBlackwave Texas Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.ITAR RequirementThis position requires eligibility under U.S. export regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise authorized to access export-controlled information.For this U.S.-based role, your application will be managed by our global People Team in Germany.