Lead Materials & NDE Project Engineer - Requisition, NPI & Special Processes (m/f)

Job Description Summary

We are seeking a mid-level Project Engineer (NPI) with a strong materials and NDE focus to drive new product introduction work packages from concept through industrialization. In this role, you will coordinate technical deliverables across Design, Supplier Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing and R&D; lead technical reviews; and align material selection, NDE strategy (UT/MT/PT/VT) and special process capability-primarily for non-ferrous alloys and surface treatments. You will translate material specifications into method-specific NDE acceptance criteria, support special process qualification and audits, and steward materials data in Hexagon Material Center while aligning attributes with PLM workflows (rPDM today, Teamcenter in the future). The position also supports requisitions and supplier engagement, ensures compliance with ASME/ISO/ASTM/EN standards, and maintains audit-ready documentation. Ideal candidates hold a degree in Materials or Mechanical Engineering (materials-focused) with relevant years of experience, deep knowledge of metallic materials and NDE, exposure to non-ferrous/surface treatment processes, and strong English communication skills (Polish or Spanish a plus). Location: Poland or Mexico (site/hybrid per policy); minimal travel for shop, lab and supplier visits. This role operates with autonomy within established practices and emphasizes rigorous engineering execution and cross-functional alignment.

• Project engineer (PE) - NPI
• Serve as Project Engineering (PE) for defined New Product Introduction (NPI) work packages with a focus on materials, NDE and special processes.
• Coordinate technical deliverables, schedules, risks and issues across Design Engineering, Supplier Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing and Technology/R&D.
• Prepare and lead technical reviews for your scope; document decisions, actions and status; ensure timely closure of open points.
• Drive cross-functional alignment on material selection, NDE strategy and special process capabilities for NPIs.

• Materials engineering & application
• Provide materials expertise for selection, qualification and application of metallic materials, with emphasis on non-ferrous alloys and relevant surface treatments.
• Assess how material behavior (mechanical properties, damage mechanisms, environmental effects) interacts with design requirements, manufacturing routes and inspection capabilities.
• Support definition and optimization of material/process routes (e.g. casting, forging, plate/weldments, AM) in collaboration with MPE (GPE Materials and Processes Engineering), Design, Manufacturing and Technology/R&D.
• Review and contribute to materials specifications, test plans and qualification programs, ensuring consistency with standards and internal practices.

• NDE/NDT integration (UT, MT, PT, VT)
• Translate material specifications into method-specific NDE acceptance criteria across product forms and process routes (castings, forgings, plate/weldments, AM).
• Define fields/templates for NDE acceptance levels, technique notes, reporting and linked specifications in PLM and related systems.
• Provide first-line, in-depth guidance on interpretation of NDE requirements and inspection results to Design Engineering, SQE and Manufacturing.
• Collaborate with certified NDE personnel (e.g. Level II/Level III) for formal approvals, written practices and complex cases; act as integrator rather than performing routine hands-on inspections.

• Special processes (SPS - non-ferrous metals & surface treatment)
• Act as Special Process Specialist for defined non-ferrous and surface treatment processes (e.g. heat treatment of non-ferrous alloys, coatings, surface preparation); detailed scope adapted to candidate capabilities.
• Support qualification, monitoring and audit of special processes at internal and external facilities together with SQE and Manufacturing.
• Contribute to internal procedures, acceptance criteria and best practices for these processes.

• Requisition engineering support
• Support creation and review of technical requirements in requisitions (materials, NDE, special processes) for suppliers.
• Ensure material specifications, NDE requirements and special process clauses in RFQs/POs are clear, consistent and aligned with internal standards.
• Provide technical input during supplier selection, bid evaluation and technical clarifications; act as technical focal point for materials/NDE in requisitions.

• Standards, compliance and publicly funded initiatives
• Monitor and integrate relevant ASME/ISO/ASTM/EN changes into internal specifications, data attributes, NDE acceptance criteria and special process requirements.
• Maintain audit-ready change logs and release records for materials, NDE and special process documentation.
• Track relevant publicly funded programs/consortia (e.g., ECCC), summarize maturity/risks and ingest characterization data (mechanical, microstructural, NDE response) into internal systems with proper metadata and version control.

• Materials data stewardship (Hexagon Material Center)
• Own selected materials-related master data fields and attributes in Hexagon Material Center to ensure completeness, consistency and traceability.
• Create or update validated material cards/datasets with traceability to standards, specifications and test reports.
• Process raw test data and apply established material models (e.g. GEV curves) to generate curves/parameters for Material Center.
• Align materials and NDE-related attributes with PLM workflows (rPDM and future Teamcenter) and support users in correctly consuming this data.

• Collaboration and enablement
• Partner with Materials and Processes Engineering, Design Engineering, Supplier Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Technology/R&D and PLM/IT administrators.
• Provide concise user guidance/training on: interpretation and application of NDE acceptance criteria, relevant aspects of non-ferrous/surface treatment processes, and use/limitations of materials data in Material Center.

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with a strong materials focus, or a related field from an accredited university or college (or equivalent experience).
• Mid-level role with a focus on independent execution: typically 3-6+ years of relevant experience in materials engineering and/or NDE/special processes.

• Strong background in metallic materials, including structure-property relationships, damage mechanisms and the impact of manufacturing routes (castings, forgings, plate/weldments, AM).
• In-depth working knowledge of UT, MT, PT and VT and how acceptance criteria relate to material form, process route and defect populations.
• Experience interpreting NDE procedures, acceptance criteria and inspection reports, and working effectively with certified NDE personnel for formal approvals where needed.
• Exposure to special processes for non-ferrous metals and/or surface treatments (e.g. heat treatment, coatings, surface preparation) in a manufacturing or supplier context.
• Experience stewarding materials data in a materials database (preferably Hexagon Material Center) and aligning with PLM workflows (rPDM and/or Teamcenter); ability to process raw test data and use established material models to create curves for Material Center.
• Familiarity with relevant ASME/ISO/ASTM/EN standards as applied to materials, NDE and special processes.

• Proficient with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); programming skills are not required.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English, including clear documentation, reporting and meeting facilitation.
• Polish or Spanish language skills are an advantage for local supplier/shop-floor interaction, depending on location.

• Strong ownership mindset and ability to work with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems, especially in NPI and supplier contexts.
• Ability to document, plan and execute projects; established skills in coordinating cross-functional teams (PEM, work-package lead, technical focal).
• Experience engaging with suppliers and manufacturing sites on NDE, materials and special processes
• Strong oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems. Ability to document, plan, market, and execute programs. Established project management skills.
  
  Note:
  
  To comply with US immigration and other legal requirements, it is necessary to specify the minimum number of years' experience required for any role based within the USA. For roles outside of the USA, to ensure compliance with applicable legislation, the JDs should focus on the substantive level of experience required for the role and a minimum number of years should NOT be used.

• Location: Poland or Mexico (site/hybrid per company policy).
• Schedule: Full-time.
• Travel: Minimal; periodic shop, lab and supplier visits in support of NPI, audits and process reviews.

• Reports to: Materials and Repair Processes team.
• Key interfaces: Design Engineering, Supplier Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Technology/R&D, PLM/IT administrators; NPI program management; special process specialists; FieldService;

• Hexagon Material Center (materials data stewardship).
• PLM: rPDM (current) and Teamcenter/Siemens (future).
• MS Office and standard collaboration tools.

• This role operates with some autonomy focused on execution within established practices and procedures; applies scientific/engineering methodologies to validate concepts and solutions.
• Candidates must have work authorization for either Poland or Mexico (as applicable).
• Job family: Engineering/Technology - Materials Science and Engineering / Project Engineering.