Engineering Team Lead
AdvantaStaff’s client, located in Chester, Virginia, is a global leader in ballistic fiber technology. Backed by decades of innovation and technical expertise in the protective fibers industry, they continue to develop cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of customers in the defense, medical, and industrial markets. AdvantaStaff is seeking an experienced Engineering Team Lead to join their fiber applications, research and development, and manufacturing facility.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in high-performance fiber and polymer processing, particularly in applications supporting ballistic protection and medical products. This position is well suited for a hands-on engineering leader who thrives in a safety-first manufacturing environment, enjoys leading cross-functional teams, and has a proven track record of driving process improvements, supporting new product development, and fostering operational excellence.
Salary: $100,000 - $170,000 depending on credentials and experience
Key Responsibilities and Duties
- Proactively lead crossfunctional teams through fiber and composite product development projects in a highly-regulated, safety-first, hands-on manufacturing environment
- Contribute to intellectual property research and development for high performance fiber and polymer processes used in ballistic and medical applications
- Work directly with onsite equipment and resources to guide diverse teams through experiment and trial development at the lab and pilot phases, with opportunities to scale
- Build consensus with internal and external customers on product application development
- Design analysis, prototyping, and technical troubleshooting, with an ability to communicate all necessary information and expectations to engineers, managers, and technicians alike
- Apply project management skills to leading, guiding, and mentoring teams through handson technical projects, without personnel management responsibility or direct supervisory authority over others
- Develop definition of technology and process design packages in a way that all stakeholders clearly understand
- Optimize Process Technology by guiding groups through Value Engineering and Productivity Projects
You Must Have
- A graduate degree in an Engineering Discipline
- 515+ years of experience in industrial manufacturing with fiber, polymers, composites and/or ballistic product development applications
- Demonstrated experience in leading new product development and project management
- A value for exemplifying and maintaining a safetyfirst culture in a dynamic facility
- The drive to lead teams in a handson, on-site, fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Strong experience in process engineering, quality management processes, continuous improvements
We Value
- Chemical, mechanical, materials engineering or science degree with experience in polymer processing
- Demonstrated success leading varied teams of stakeholders through engineering projects at all phases, from experiment design to fullscale implementation
- Handson experience with UHMWPE fiber, energy absorbing composites, ballistic product design and testing, composite processing design, armor end article fabrication, or textiles
- The ability to comfortably communicate and translate technical needs and expectations with executives, engineers, technicians, and operators
- An aptitude for balancing technical rigor with practical operational needs and realities
- Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing methodologies and Six Sigma tools and capital project management
- The ability to organize, analyze, and solve complex problems across departments through proactive influence
- Handson individuals who are able to work without guidance or supervision and have demonstrated knowledge of engineering techniques to optimize design processes
- Track record of successful contribution to products and projects in a matrix organization
This hands-on role offers a collaborative engineer the opportunity to leverage their industry expertise and interpersonal leadership skills in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
About AdvantaStaff
AdvantaStaff is the region’s premier resource for qualified short and long-term staffing for distribution, manufacturing and light industrial businesses throughout central Virginia. We service the cities of Richmond, Petersburg and Colonial Heights as well as Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George counties.
Apply Online: advantastaff.com
Call with questions 804-414-1560
Work Location: In person
