Senior Customer Engineer – Composite Materials & Aerospace Applications (Remote/Hybrid, Anaheim, CA)

About arenaflex and the Future of Advanced Composite Materials

Welcome to arenaflex, a pioneering science and materials innovation company where chemistry meets imagination and engineering excellence. At arenaflex, we believe that the most extraordinary breakthroughs happen when brilliant, diverse minds collaborate to solve the world's most complex challenges. We are not simply creating chemical formulations—we are engineering the foundational materials that make modern life possible: lighter aircraft, more efficient vehicles, smarter medical devices, cleaner energy solutions, and so much more.

Our heritage is rooted in a legacy of scientific discovery stretching back over a century, inspired by the belief that chemistry holds the key to a more sustainable, healthier, and more connected future. Today, arenaflex operates as a global leader in advanced composite materials, specialty polymers, and high-performance manufacturing technologies. With a worldwide team of more than 13,000 passionate innovators, scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers, we partner with the world's most demanding industries to develop solutions that push the boundaries of what is technically possible.

For our Aerospace and Industrial Composites division, we are seeking a seasoned Senior Customer Engineer who thrives at the intersection of materials science, customer engagement, and strategic business development. If you are a technically exceptional engineer who loves solving real-world manufacturing puzzles, building deep relationships with aerospace OEMs, and shaping the future of composite part design and production, then arenaflex is where your next chapter begins.

The Opportunity: Senior Customer Engineer – Aerospace Composites

This is more than a technical support role. It is a customer-facing leadership opportunity where you will serve as the primary technical authority and trusted advisor for some of the most advanced aerospace programs in the world. You will operate at the front lines of innovation, collaborating directly with major aerospace OEMs, tier-one subcontractors, and internal cross-functional teams at arenaflex to drive material adoption, resolve complex technical challenges, and identify the next generation of high-value opportunities.

From concept development and part manufacturability analysis to field troubleshooting and long-term strategic account growth, your expertise will directly influence the success of legacy programs and the launch of next-generation aerospace platforms. If you are energized by the challenge of translating deep materials science into practical, scalable, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions, this role is built for you.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Customer Engineer at arenaflex, you will own a portfolio of strategic customer engagements and technical deliverables. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Customer Engagement and Voice-of-Customer Leadership: Serve as the principal technical interface between customers and arenaflex's internal engineering, manufacturing, R&D, and commercial functions. Champion the voice of the customer across the organization to ensure alignment between customer needs and arenaflex's product, process, and technology roadmaps.
• New Opportunity Development: Identify, develop, and nurture new composite materials and manufacturing technology opportunities aligned with evolving market trends and customer program requirements. Lead concept development activities that bring together material selection, process engineering, and part design optimization.
• Product and Process Promotion: Promote arenaflex's broad portfolio of products and technologies, clearly articulating differentiated value propositions to customers ranging from shop floor mechanics and technicians to senior executives in procurement, engineering, R&D, quality, and manufacturing leadership.
• Project Leadership for Prototyping and Builds: Lead and support projects that involve material manufacturing, prototyping, and part builds using thermoset prepregs, thermoplastics, adhesives, primers, and surfacing films. Apply expertise across a wide range of processes including autoclave, out-of-autoclave (OOA), press molding, and resin infusion.
• Field Technical Support: Provide on-site and remote field technical support to major aerospace OEMs and subcontractors for both new development programs and legacy fleet support. Diagnose and resolve material and processing issues in aerospace composite shops, acting as the trusted liaison to drive mutually acceptable outcomes.
• Technical Advisory and Trade Studies: Advise customers on the processing, properties, and performance of arenaflex materials. Support trade studies and provide clear, technically rigorous recommendations on product selection based on part geometry, application requirements, and qualification standards.
• Research and Development Collaboration: Lead and support R&D activities that advance arenaflex's technical and business objectives. Contribute to simulation, modeling, and analysis efforts related to composite part manufacturing and structural performance.
• New Business Capture: Identify potential new applications for arenaflex products and partner with Account Managers to capture new business. Support market trend analysis, business case development, competitive material assessments, and the identification of new deposition, forming, and curing processes to accelerate technology adoption on aerospace platforms.
• Customer Site Audits and Visits: Accompany customers to arenaflex sites and customer facilities for audits, technical exchanges, and capability reviews. Lead these engagements when appropriate, ensuring clear communication of technical content and strategic intent.
• Targeted Project Support: Support or lead focused projects within arenaflex plants or at customer sites covering product configuration, capability expansion, cost reduction initiatives, problem-solving workshops, and Lean manufacturing implementation.
• Material Characterization and Reducibility Studies: Support characterization and reducibility studies for new material developments. Align day-to-day activities with broader business line strategies by establishing clear objectives and customer touch points across assigned accounts.
• Conformance and Specification Coordination: Support coordination of conformance and specification issues between arenaflex plants and key customer procurement and specification custodians. Provide additional technical support to customers outside the targeted region when needed.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Develop and maintain Subject Matter Expert (SME) status on one or more aspects of composite parts, materials, or processing technologies, serving as a go-to resource internally and externally.

Essential Qualifications

We are seeking a high-caliber engineer with a deep foundation in composite materials and a proven track record of customer-facing technical leadership. The following qualifications are required:

• Education: Bachelor's degree (minimum) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Industry Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated, hands-on work experience in composites, including direct involvement in problem solving, delivering technical presentations, managing projects, building long-term customer relationships, and identifying new business or technology opportunities.
• Design and Manufacturing Knowledge: Minimum of two (2) years of experience reviewing composite part designs and engineering drawings for manufacturability, specification compliance, and qualification readiness.
• Aerospace Industry Fluency: Strong understanding of the aerospace industry ecosystem, including major OEMs, their supply chains, key program structures, aerospace quality systems (such as AS9100), composite testing requirements, and statistical process control and capability methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

The following attributes will help you stand out as a candidate, though they are not strictly required:

• Master's degree or PhD in Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with multiple composite processing technologies (autoclave, OOA, press molding, resin infusion, filament winding, etc.) in both thermoset and thermoplastic systems.
• Familiarity with composite part simulation tools for manufacturing and structural performance.
• Prior experience working directly with major aerospace OEMs (e.g., Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Spirit AeroSystems, GKN Aerospace) or tier-one subcontractors.
• Six Sigma, Lean, or other continuous improvement certifications.
• Experience supporting the qualification and certification of new materials for aerospace applications.

Skills and Competencies for Success

To thrive in this role at arenaflex, you will demonstrate a blend of technical depth, business acumen, and interpersonal excellence. The ideal candidate profile includes:

• Technical Mastery: Deep, applied knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes, and part design principles.
• Problem-Solving Mindset: A structured, analytical approach to diagnosing complex manufacturing and material performance issues, paired with the creativity to develop novel solutions.
• Customer-Centric Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate highly technical content into clear, compelling narratives for audiences ranging from shop floor technicians to senior executives.
• Relationship Building: A natural ability to build trust, credibility, and long-term partnerships with diverse customer stakeholders.
• Project Leadership: Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, deadlines, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strategic Thinking: Comfort connecting day-to-day technical activities to broader business outcomes, market trends, and account growth strategies.
• Adaptability and Travel Readiness: Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time and to support customers across regions as business needs dictate.

Career Growth, Learning, and Development

At arenaflex, your growth is our growth. We are deeply committed to investing in our people through world-class training, mentorship, and career development programs. As a Senior Customer Engineer, you will have access to:

• Comprehensive onboarding and continuous technical training through our global learning platforms.
• Mentorship from senior technical leaders and subject matter experts across the global arenaflex network.
• Opportunities to attend and present at leading industry conferences (such as SAMPE, CAMX, and ICCM).
• Career pathways into senior technical leadership, global key account management, R&D leadership, or business development roles.
• Free language courses available in 24 languages to support your global mobility.
• Free well-being sessions covering both physical and psychological health.

Compensation, Benefits, and Perks

arenaflex offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to attract, retain, and reward top talent. For this U.S.-based position, the reasonably expected base salary range is $90,880 to $113,600 per year. Actual compensation will be based on a variety of factors including the candidate's skills, experience, location, and business needs, and may ultimately fall outside of this posted range. The total compensation package may also include performance-based bonuses and additional incentives.

Additional benefits and perks include:

• 16 or more weeks of paid maternity, paternity, and co-parenting leave, in accordance with local regulations.
• Access to a robust training platform for all employees.
• Free well-being sessions focused on both physical and psychological health.
• Hybrid work flexibility between the arenaflex Anaheim, CA plant and your home office.
• A diverse, inclusive, and innovation-driven workplace culture.

Work Environment and Company Culture

At arenaflex, we are united by a shared mission: to advance science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, our communities, and our planet. We actively promote unity, not uniformity—celebrating the diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas that each team member brings to our work. Whether you are collaborating with colleagues across time zones, presenting to a Fortune 500 aerospace executive, or troubleshooting a manufacturing process on the shop floor, you will find a culture that values curiosity, integrity, safety, and the relentless pursuit of better solutions.

Our Anaheim, CA facility is a hub of composite materials innovation, serving some of the most demanding aerospace customers in the world. The hybrid work model offers flexibility while ensuring strong collaboration with both on-site teams and remote colleagues.

Additional Information

• This position involves handling customer proprietary information and confidential documents, requiring a high degree of discretion and professionalism.
• Travel up to 25% may be required, both domestically and internationally as business needs dictate.
• The role offers hybrid flexibility between the arenaflex Anaheim, CA plant and your home office.
• Position level: Senior.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility

arenaflex is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process. If you require any assistance or accommodations to ensure a seamless application experience, please let us know—we are here to support you every step of the way.

We will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. If you are unsure whether you meet all the criteria or qualifications listed in this job description, we still encourage you to apply.

Apply Today and Shape the Future with arenaflex

If you are an accomplished composite materials engineer with a passion for aerospace innovation, customer success, and continuous learning, arenaflex wants to hear from you. Bring your expertise, your curiosity, and your ambition to a team that is redefining what's possible in advanced materials. Together, we will engineer solutions that elevate industries, protect our planet, and inspire the next generation of breakthrough technologies.

Take the next step in your career. Apply today and join arenaflex—where science, collaboration, and purpose come together to shape a better future.