Blackwave stands for passion and innovation in aerospace. What began as a small start-up in Munich, Germany with a genuine bottom-up mentality has developed into a leading player in the space and aerospace industry all the way to the USA. Our focus is on the development and production of standardized pressure vessels (COPVs) and complex carbon structures. With our “off-the-shelf” approach to COPVs, we are setting new standards – efficient, reliable, and future-oriented. Progress is what drives us: with courage, creativity, and technical expertise, we are shaping the next generation of space technologies.

Role Mission

The 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 Responsibilities

• Serve as the engineer of record for COPV winding and curing processes on-site

• Ensure stable and consistent daily production at the winding station

• Troubleshoot winding and curing process issues, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions

• Develop and implement winding process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce scrap

• Translate engineering development inputs into practical, documented production processes

• Define, document, and maintain process parameters, work instructions, and quality standards

• Support the setup, operation, and optimization of winding and curing equipment

• Train and build composite winding knowledge within the Texas production team

• Coordinate with the Team in Germany to bring the process expertise to Texas

• Coordinate with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure aligned execution

• Contribute to the introduction of new winding strategies, materials, or equipment

Competencies

Technical Know-How

• Degree 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 Attitude

• Solution-oriented mindset — focused on finding what works, not just identifying what doesn't

• Comfortable with uncertainty and change in a fast-moving production environment

• Open to learning and growing, both in technical depth and in new areas

• Hands-on approach — present on the floor and engaged with the equipment

• Able to teach and transfer knowledge clearly to operators and team members

• Clear, direct communicator across engineering and production teams

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Lightweight Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical field

• Several years of hands-on experience in composites manufacturing, with a focus on winding or similar processes

• Proven experience in engineering development and technical documentation

• Experience working in structured, process-driven production environments

Language Skills

• English is required

• Spanish or German are a plus

Work Model

• On-site work is mandatory

• Willingness to work closely with equipment and production teams on a daily basis

• Our 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 hub

Equal Opportunity Employer

Blackwave Texas Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.

ITAR Requirement

This 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.