Cleaning Laboratory Technologist
Join Blackwave Texas as a Cleaning Laboratory Technologist: perform precision lab analysis on COPV cleaning processes and help ensure every tank meets spaceflight-grade technical cleanliness.
About Blackwave
Blackwave 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 Mission
The mission of the Cleaning Laboratory Technologist is to collect control and rinse samples from the cleaning process and perform the laboratory analysis that validates the technical cleanliness of each tank — including Nonvolatile Residue (NVR), particle count, pH, conductivity, and dew point measurement. The role also supports the broader cleaning, drying, and packaging process, applying good laboratory practices to minimize contamination and good documentation practices (ALCOA+: Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, and Available) to ensure every result is trustworthy and traceable.
Expected Outcomes
A successful Cleaning Laboratory Technologist will:
Understand the testing methods and requirements with minimal training
Be able to clean tanks independently
Learn and internalize Blackwave's cleaning process
Identify opportunities for improvement and help implement them
Perform the necessary laboratory analyses to validate technical cleanliness of tanks, following industry best practices
Key Responsibilities
Collect control and rinse samples from the cleaning process
Perform laboratory analysis including NVR, particle count, pH, conductivity, and dew point measurement
Apply good laboratory practices to minimize contamination throughout sample handling and testing
Document all results in accordance with ALCOA+ principles to ensure data is attributable, legible, contemporaneous, original, accurate, complete, consistent, enduring, and available
Support and, when needed, independently carry out the cleaning, drying, and packaging process for tanks
Follow standard operating procedures consistently while identifying opportunities to improve the cleaning and analysis process
Flag deviations, defects, or process risks and escalate them clearly
Work closely with the Cleaning Lead and broader team to maintain reliable, repeatable results
Contribute to a growing knowledge base of cleaning and analysis best practices at the Texas site
Competencies
Technical Know-How
Experience in a lab or manufacturing setting (required)
Skilled in NVR and other necessary laboratory analysis techniques, such as filtration and particle count (required)
Able to follow standard operating procedures consistently (required)
Can follow and identify points of improvement for a cleaning and analysis process (required)
Familiar with quality documentation, standards, and industry best practices (required)
Culture Add and Attitude
Hands-on
Flexible to work in a fast-moving environment
Willing to work with leadership to implement process improvements
Coachable and willing to learn
Self-starter — does not need constant supervision to perform the role
Team player with strong communication skills
Problem solver
Required Qualifications
Education and Experience
Technical education, vocational training, or relevant practical experience in a lab or manufacturing setting
Prior experience in lab operations, technical cleanliness, clean room operations, or high-tech packaging is preferred
Background in medical, aerospace, defense, or electronics manufacturing, or in a production bio or chemical lab, is a plus
Language Skills
English is required (fluent)
German is a plus
Work Model
On-site work is mandatory, first shift
Our current facility is located in Lockhart, Texas (near Austin/San Antonio)
In August 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.
At Blackwave Texas Inc., we hire for talent, curiosity, and the drive to build what’s next. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence, and qualifications.
If you’d like to review our affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at career@blackwave.de
For this U.S.-based role, your application will be managed by our global People Team in Germany.
- Department
- Production Engineering
- Locations
- San Antonio TX
San Antonio TX
Our Perks & Benefits
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🏄🏻♀️ 15 days paid vacation
We value that you get more time with your family and friends. Therefore we offer everybody 15 days paid vacation plus federal holidays.
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🏥 Health Plan included
Health matters, and we've got you covered. You are eligible to participate in our health plan. We cover up to 75% of premium plans. Dental and Vision insurance on top.
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Regular social & team events 🕺
On a monthly basis, we celebrate our successes as a team.
Workplace, Culture & Diversity
Corporate culture is essential to allow the organization to differentiate itself. In terms of image on the one hand, it has strengths both internally and externally to consumers. It is indeed a source of cohesion and motivation of employees and it limits conflicts. With customers, it conveys a positive image and can develop a feeling of closeness to the company or even become a criterion of choice.