HII · 16 hours ago
Senior Coatings Process Engineer / SME
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$93K/yr - $145K/yr
5+ years expHII's Mission Technologies division is seeking a highly experienced Senior Coatings Process Engineer / Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the development of advanced polymer-based coatings for DoD and commercial applications. The role involves providing expert guidance across formulation, scale-up, and production readiness, with a focus on MIL-Spec coating requirements.
Public SafetyHealthcareHealth Care
No H1B
Security Clearance Required
Responsibilities
Serve as the primary technical advisor for coating formulation, processing, and production
Guide equipment selection, facility layout, and production-line setup for coatings manufacturing
Review and refine formulation strategies to ensure compliance with MIL-Spec and other relevant standards
Support identification of target customers, programs, and applications within defense markets
Oversee qualification testing, conformance testing, and regulatory compliance activities
Define scale-up pathways, raw-material sourcing strategies, and best practices for efficient, repeatable production
Act as a technical liaison between internal teams, suppliers, and external partners to ensure alignment across development and manufacturing
Contribute to market strategy, product positioning, and competitive differentiation in CONUS/OCONUS defense and commercial coatings markets
Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical or operational issues that may impact production quality or throughput
Support R&D activities, including testing, evaluation, documentation, and reporting for new coating technologies and elastomeric systems
Qualification
Required
Level 3 - 5 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 3 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 0 years experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 9 years relevant experience
Level 4 - 9 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 7 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 4 years relevant experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 13 years relevant experience
5+ years of experience working within government and/or defense with similar product lines - specifically with MIL-Spec coating systems
Strong understanding of the coatings supply chain, qualification process, and customer expectations
Demonstrated experience launching or advising on new coating lines or products
Background in chemistry, chemical engineering, coatings technology, or a related field
Benefits
Best-in-class medical, dental and vision plan choices
Wellness resources
Employee assistance programs
Savings Plan Options (401(k))
Financial planning tools
Life insurance
Employee discounts
Paid holidays and paid time off
Tuition reimbursement
Early childhood and post-secondary education scholarships
Company
HII
HII is committed to delivering capabilities of exceptional quality and safety to our customers, and to the safety, health and welfare.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Julia Evans
Sr. HR Business Partner 4
Mark Davis
Chief Operations Officer for the Associate Laboratory Director, Weapons Production , LANL
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