Materials Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Materials Engineer jobs in Maryland concentrate in aerospace and defense, federal contracting, and advanced manufacturing, with demand at levels from early-career to principal engineer across the state. The largest hiring metros are Baltimore, Annapolis, and the Washington D.C. suburbs, where employers such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory maintain deep engineering workforces. The most sought-after specialties in Maryland are composites engineering, failure analysis, and materials characterization for defense and space systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 8+ Materials Engineer jobs
Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.
Who We're Looking For
We are seeking an experienced Senior Materials and Process Engineer III to lead the development, qualification, and implementation of metallic materials and manufacturing processes for next-generation spacecraft structures, propulsion systems, and flight hardware. This role is ideal for an engineer with deep expertise in aerospace metallic materials, joining technologies, process qualification, and manufacturing development who thrives in a fast-paced environment supporting both hardware development and flight production.
You will work closely with propulsion, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering teams to select, qualify, and optimize metallic materials and manufacturing processes that enable reliable, high-performance spacecraft systems. This highly collaborative role combines technical leadership, hands-on engineering support, root cause analysis, and process development across the entire product lifecycle - from early development through flight production.
Where You'll Make an Impact
- Lead the selection, development, qualification, and implementation of metallic materials and manufacturing processes for spacecraft structures, propulsion systems, and flight hardware
- Develop and qualify friction stir welding (FSW), welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, forming, additive manufacturing, and other metallic fabrication processes to support spacecraft production
- Provide technical leadership for materials selection, compatibility assessments, and manufacturing process development across multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Provide technical expertise in the optimization and qualification of friction stir welding, electron beam welding, laser welding, TIG welding, and other advanced joining processes for flight-critical hardware
- Develop process specifications, material specifications, qualification plans, and manufacturing standards to support production and flight certification
- Investigate material failures, manufacturing anomalies, and nonconformances using root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies
- Support design reviews by providing guidance on material selection, manufacturability, structural integrity, and production readiness
- Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to improve production efficiency, process capability, repeatability, and hardware quality
- Support supplier qualification, material validation, and special process oversight to ensure compliance with aerospace standards
- Define and oversee mechanical testing, metallurgical evaluations, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and material characterization activities
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing quality, reduce risk, and improve cost and schedule performance
- Mentor junior engineers while serving as the technical authority for metallic materials and manufacturing processes
- Support spacecraft development, qualification, and production efforts in a dynamic, fast-paced aerospace environment
What It Takes
- Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- 10+ years of experience supporting metallic materials engineering and manufacturing processes in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries
- Experience developing and qualifying friction stir welding (FSW), electron beam welding, laser welding, TIG welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, or other metallic manufacturing processes
- Demonstrated expertise in metallic materials selection, qualification, and process development
- Strong knowledge of aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, and other aerospace metallic materials
- Experience developing and qualifying welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, or other metallic manufacturing processes
- Experience authoring material specifications, process specifications, qualification documentation, and engineering procedures
- Strong understanding of metallurgy, fracture mechanics, corrosion, fatigue, and failure analysis principles
- Experience performing root cause investigations and implementing corrective actions for manufacturing and material issues
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, material specifications, and aerospace manufacturing standards
- Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to lead technical efforts with minimal oversight while mentoring junior engineers
Nice-to-Have Experience
- Master's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, propulsion, or other aerospace flight hardware programs
- Experience developing welding procedures (WPS/PQR), process qualification, and production implementation for aerospace flight hardware using advanced joining technologies
- Experience with pressure vessels, propulsion systems, cryogenic hardware, or aerospace structures
- Familiarity with nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods including radiography, ultrasonic inspection, dye penetrant, and computed tomography
- Experience supporting material qualification programs in accordance with NASA, DoD, MIL, ASTM, or aerospace industry standards
- Experience with additive manufacturing qualification for metallic aerospace components
- Experience working with suppliers to qualify special processes and improve manufacturing capability
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or relevant industry certifications
What You'll Get
- Ownership – Lead the development and qualification of metallic materials and manufacturing processes supporting mission-critical spacecraft hardware.
- Innovation – Help advance cutting-edge spacecraft manufacturing technologies that enable next-generation mobility and operations in space.
- Impact – Drive the reliability, manufacturability, and performance of spacecraft systems supporting national security, civil, and commercial missions.
- Growth – Join a collaborative engineering organization where you'll influence product development, manufacturing strategy, and technical excellence across multiple spacecraft programs.
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing
Location: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA
Base Salary: Rockville, MD: $125,000 to $175,000, Hawthorne, CA: $135,000 to $185,000
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.
Additional Requirements
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Apply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.
Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.
Who We're Looking For
We are seeking an experienced Senior Materials and Process Engineer III to lead the development, qualification, and implementation of metallic materials and manufacturing processes for next-generation spacecraft structures, propulsion systems, and flight hardware. This role is ideal for an engineer with deep expertise in aerospace metallic materials, joining technologies, process qualification, and manufacturing development who thrives in a fast-paced environment supporting both hardware development and flight production.
You will work closely with propulsion, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering teams to select, qualify, and optimize metallic materials and manufacturing processes that enable reliable, high-performance spacecraft systems. This highly collaborative role combines technical leadership, hands-on engineering support, root cause analysis, and process development across the entire product lifecycle - from early development through flight production.
Where You'll Make an Impact
- Lead the selection, development, qualification, and implementation of metallic materials and manufacturing processes for spacecraft structures, propulsion systems, and flight hardware
- Develop and qualify friction stir welding (FSW), welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, forming, additive manufacturing, and other metallic fabrication processes to support spacecraft production
- Provide technical leadership for materials selection, compatibility assessments, and manufacturing process development across multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Provide technical expertise in the optimization and qualification of friction stir welding, electron beam welding, laser welding, TIG welding, and other advanced joining processes for flight-critical hardware
- Develop process specifications, material specifications, qualification plans, and manufacturing standards to support production and flight certification
- Investigate material failures, manufacturing anomalies, and nonconformances using root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies
- Support design reviews by providing guidance on material selection, manufacturability, structural integrity, and production readiness
- Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to improve production efficiency, process capability, repeatability, and hardware quality
- Support supplier qualification, material validation, and special process oversight to ensure compliance with aerospace standards
- Define and oversee mechanical testing, metallurgical evaluations, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and material characterization activities
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing quality, reduce risk, and improve cost and schedule performance
- Mentor junior engineers while serving as the technical authority for metallic materials and manufacturing processes
- Support spacecraft development, qualification, and production efforts in a dynamic, fast-paced aerospace environment
What It Takes
- Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- 10+ years of experience supporting metallic materials engineering and manufacturing processes in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries
- Experience developing and qualifying friction stir welding (FSW), electron beam welding, laser welding, TIG welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, or other metallic manufacturing processes
- Demonstrated expertise in metallic materials selection, qualification, and process development
- Strong knowledge of aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, and other aerospace metallic materials
- Experience developing and qualifying welding, brazing, heat treatment, machining, or other metallic manufacturing processes
- Experience authoring material specifications, process specifications, qualification documentation, and engineering procedures
- Strong understanding of metallurgy, fracture mechanics, corrosion, fatigue, and failure analysis principles
- Experience performing root cause investigations and implementing corrective actions for manufacturing and material issues
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, material specifications, and aerospace manufacturing standards
- Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to lead technical efforts with minimal oversight while mentoring junior engineers
Nice-to-Have Experience
- Master's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, propulsion, or other aerospace flight hardware programs
- Experience developing welding procedures (WPS/PQR), process qualification, and production implementation for aerospace flight hardware using advanced joining technologies
- Experience with pressure vessels, propulsion systems, cryogenic hardware, or aerospace structures
- Familiarity with nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods including radiography, ultrasonic inspection, dye penetrant, and computed tomography
- Experience supporting material qualification programs in accordance with NASA, DoD, MIL, ASTM, or aerospace industry standards
- Experience with additive manufacturing qualification for metallic aerospace components
- Experience working with suppliers to qualify special processes and improve manufacturing capability
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or relevant industry certifications
What You'll Get
- Ownership – Lead the development and qualification of metallic materials and manufacturing processes supporting mission-critical spacecraft hardware.
- Innovation – Help advance cutting-edge spacecraft manufacturing technologies that enable next-generation mobility and operations in space.
- Impact – Drive the reliability, manufacturability, and performance of spacecraft systems supporting national security, civil, and commercial missions.
- Growth – Join a collaborative engineering organization where you'll influence product development, manufacturing strategy, and technical excellence across multiple spacecraft programs.
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing
Location: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA
Base Salary: Rockville, MD: $125,000 to $175,000, Hawthorne, CA: $135,000 to $185,000
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.
Additional Requirements
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Apply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.
See All 8 Materials Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Materials Engineer JobsMaterials Engineer Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Materials Engineer Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in materials engineer jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline
- Experience with composites, metallurgy, or advanced materials testing and characterization techniques
- Familiarity with DoD or federal contractor requirements and security clearance eligibility
- Proficiency with materials analysis tools such as SEM, XRD, or fatigue testing equipment
- Knowledge of relevant industry standards including ASTM, MIL-SPEC, and ASME specifications
- Professional Engineer licensure or active pursuit of PE credentials preferred for senior-level roles
Materials Engineer Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a materials engineer in Maryland?
Most materials engineer positions in Maryland require at minimum a bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, or a related engineering field from an ABET-accredited program. Maryland does not require a state-specific license to work as a materials engineer in private industry, but engineers who offer services to the public or sign off on engineering documents must hold a Professional Engineer license issued through the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers. Many Maryland employers, particularly in defense contracting, also require or strongly prefer candidates who are eligible to obtain a federal security clearance.
How much do materials engineers make in Maryland?
Materials engineers in Maryland earn a median of about $140,640 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $79,470 for the lowest 10% to over $195,190 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire materials engineers in Maryland?
Employers hiring materials engineers in Maryland right now include Allan Myers, Trans-Tech, and Legato, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Maryland's concentration of aerospace, defense, and federal research institutions makes it one of the more active states for materials engineering roles focused on composites, failure analysis, and advanced coatings.
Which Maryland cities have the most materials engineer jobs?
The cities with the most materials engineer openings in Maryland are Fallston, Rockville, and Laurel. The Baltimore and Washington D.C. suburban corridor drives the majority of demand, anchored by major defense contractors, federal laboratories such as the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, and advanced manufacturing facilities concentrated along the I-95 and I-270 corridors.
Are there remote materials engineer jobs in Maryland?
Yes, but they are rare. Materials engineering work is largely hands-on, requiring direct access to labs, test equipment, and manufacturing floors, which limits remote flexibility compared to purely analytical or software roles. About 0% of materials engineer openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to be senior-level roles focused on analysis, reporting, or program management rather than laboratory or production work.
How can I get hired as a materials engineer in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate role or internship with a major Maryland defense contractor or federal research institution, where structured programs for early-career engineers are common. Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin both run entry-level engineering development programs that include materials engineering rotations. Adjacent roles such as materials technician, quality control engineer, or laboratory analyst at Maryland manufacturing firms can also provide the hands-on foundation employers look for. Pursuing EIT certification through the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers immediately after graduation gives candidates a competitive edge over peers without any credentials.
Where can I find and apply to materials engineer jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to materials engineer jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current Maryland openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 8 Materials Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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