Lead R&D Engineer – Ballistic Composites

Solstice Advanced Materials

. Optimize composite material processing guidelines for soft armor applications .

Posted 9/21/2026full-timeColonial Heights • Virginia • United StatesSenior💰 $142,119 - $177,904 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Expertise in optimizing composite material processing for soft armor applications, with extensive experience in ballistic and non-ballistic testing, data management, and technical communication. Proven ability to collaborate with military organizations and manufacturers to meet body armor program specifications and drive new product development.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Composite Material ProcessingBallistic TestingData ManagementTechnical CommunicationProgram Coordination

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Composite Material OptimizationBallistic Composite MaterialsStatistical AnalysisExperimental DesignMaterial Characterization

Soft Skills

CollaborationCommunicationProject Management

Tools & Technologies

MS Office ApplicationsMinitab

Industry Keywords

Soft Body ArmorBallistic Threat StandardsPrototype DevelopmentManufacturing ProcessesTechnical Oversight

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Optimize composite material processing guidelines for soft armor applications
Perform hands-on system design, lay-up, and equipment operation for part fabrication
Coordinate prototype development, including sample and test matrix definition, work order drafting, laboratory scheduling, prioritization, execution, testing, and communication of results
Collaborate with armor manufacturers, military R&D organizations, and Program Offices to understand current and future body armor program specifications
Define composite material property linkages to end article performance and establish characterization protocols and targets for ballistic and non-ballistic system requirements
Identify and assess emerging materials, manufacturing processes, and characterization techniques for technology roadmap considerations
Represent Solstice Technology in customer meetings, global trade shows, and technical conferences
Provide technical oversight and support for customer quality resolution, manufacturing initiatives, and new product development
Draft scientific publications, white papers, solicitation responses, invention disclosures, and intellectual property materials

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Polymers/Composite Materials, Materials Science or other related scientific or technical discipline
10+ years of experience with soft body armor materials, processing, ballistic and non-ballistic testing
Knowledge and experience with ballistic composite materials, process manufacturing, ballistic threat standards (NIJ / Military), and testing of soft and hard armor applications
Experience in data management including collection, interpretation, graphical and statistical analysis to interpret experimental results and develop presentations to communicate these findings
Experience with MS Office Applications including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Minitab statistical analysis software
Ability to manage multiple programs of varying degrees of complexity
Knowledge of hard armor materials, processing, and testing
Candidate must be a U.S. person: a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status

Benefits

Comp & perks

Employer-subsidized Medical Insurance
Employer-subsidized Dental Insurance
Employer-subsidized Vision Insurance
Employer-subsidized Life Insurance
Short-Term Disability
Long-Term Disability
401(k) match
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
EAP
Educational Assistance
Parental Leave
Paid Time Off for vacation, personal business, sick time, and parental leave
12 Paid Holidays