Aerospace Technical Specialist

About Dunmore International Corp:

Acquired by Steel Partners in February 2018 as part of the Diversified Industrial Segment, Dunmore manufactures innovative technical films for Aerospace, Automotive, Commercial Graphics, Packaging applications. Dunmore has deep expertise in novel coatings, films and multi-layer laminates based on 14,000 unique chemistries and constructions, and significant experience in handling foils, plastics and fabrics. As a trusted Industry partner for over 50 years, Dunmore collaborates with customers in high growth markets to design, develop and manufacture a range of highly engineered value-added product solutions. Dunmore clients include several Fortune 500 companies across 25+ countries and is a Gold Level Supplier to one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers. Dunmore's mission is to delight its customers through technical innovation, high levels of service and open collaboration to solve difficult application problems.

Summary

The Aerospace Technical Specialist is responsible for executing aerospace technical services, validation activities, qualification support, application evaluations, and technical documentation associated with advanced films, coatings, laminates, and material systems.

This role serves as the primary execution resource for Aerospace Technical Services, translating aerospace development intent into disciplined testing, validation, reporting, and customer-ready technical documentation. The Aerospace Technical Specialist supports aerospace product development, customer qualification programs, application evaluations, and technology transfer activities through rigorous data generation, technical execution, and strong documentation practices.

Working closely with the Aerospace Principal Scientist, the Aerospace Technical Specialist develops increasing expertise in aerospace applications, customer requirements, qualification methodologies, and space-environment performance considerations. This role is intended for a technically curious materials professional who enjoys learning, problem solving, customer support, and building deep technical knowledge over time.

The Aerospace Technical Specialist operates within priorities established by the Aerospace Principal Scientist and serves as a key contributor to Dunmore's aerospace growth strategy through technical excellence, documentation discipline, customer responsiveness, and continuous learning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Aerospace Technical Services & Validation Execution

• Execute approved Aerospace Technical Services Requests (TSRs), validation plans, and qualification activities.
• Support aerospace development programs through testing, sample preparation, data generation, and technical evaluations.
• Coordinate and support laboratory, pilot-scale, and production-scale aerospace trials.
• Execute validation plans, repeatability studies, robustness studies, and application-specific testing activities.
• Ensure all aerospace technical work is traceable, documented, and reproducible.
• Support technology transfer and manufacturing readiness activities as aerospace products mature.
• Assist with development and maintenance of aerospace test methods, acceptance criteria, and reporting standards.
• Support generation of technical data required for customer qualification, product development, and aerospace program execution.

Qualification & Customer Support

• Support customer qualification efforts through structured testing, data generation, validation activities, and technical documentation.
• Assist in translating customer requirements, specifications, and qualification expectations into testing plans and execution activities.
• Assemble customer-facing technical packages including test reports, validation summaries, qualification data, and supporting documentation.
• Conduct preliminary technical screening of aerospace customer questions, concerns, and complaints to support timely issue resolution and appropriate escalation.
• Assist customers and internal teams in understanding material performance characteristics, test results, and qualification data.
• Support aerospace customer visits, technical reviews, audits, witness testing, and application discussions as required.
• Maintain awareness of customer specifications, qualification requirements, and aerospace industry expectations.
• Support preparation of technical responses to customer requests, qualification inquiries, and application-related questions.

Applications & Technical Support

• Support evaluation of aerospace applications including thermal control systems, multifunctional film systems, environmental protection systems, cryogenic systems, launch systems, spacecraft structures, and related aerospace architectures.
• Assist in evaluating material performance related to emissivity, absorptivity, electrical conductivity, RF transparency, environmental durability, outgassing, and other application-specific requirements.
• Support development of application guides, technical references, and customer-facing technical materials.
• Develop increasing understanding of aerospace mission environments and how material performance requirements are established.
• Assist in connecting customer needs and application requirements to Dunmore's existing and future product platforms.
• Support interpretation of customer specifications and technical requirements to ensure testing and validation efforts remain aligned with intended application needs.
• Develop familiarity with aerospace materials, coatings, laminates, metallized films, and related manufacturing processes utilized by Dunmore.

Technical Documentation & Product Information

• Prepare and maintain technical reports, validation summaries, qualification documentation, test plans, and customer data packages.
• Support creation, review, revision, and maintenance of Technical Data Sheets (TDSs), product specifications, and customer-facing technical documents.
• Maintain traceability between customer requirements, testing activities, validation results, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure consistency and accuracy of technical information distributed internally and externally.
• Support document control and knowledge capture activities related to aerospace programs.
• Assist with development and maintenance of reporting templates, technical standards, and documentation best practices.
• Support development of product information, application notes, technical bulletins, qualification summaries, and customer-facing technical literature as required.

Trial Coordination & Execution Support

• Coordinate aerospace trial readiness activities with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Scheduling.
• Prepare samples, formulations, drawdowns, test articles, and supporting materials required for development and validation activities.
• Support pilot-scale and production-scale trial execution through data collection, documentation, and post-trial reporting.
• Participate in pre-trial reviews, post-trial reviews, and implementation of corrective actions and process improvements where appropriate.
• Ensure technical findings are effectively communicated across functional teams.
• Support creation of trial plans, readiness checklists, trial summaries, and customer-facing trial reports.
• Assist with process validation activities and manufacturing qualification efforts associated with aerospace products.

Knowledge Capture & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain organized records of aerospace development, validation, qualification, and technical services activities.
• Capture technical learnings from customer interactions, validation efforts, qualification programs, and development projects.
• Support development and maintenance of aerospace knowledge repositories, application databases, and lessons-learned systems.
• Assist in documenting aerospace application knowledge, customer requirements, and material performance data to improve future responsiveness and technical effectiveness.
• Support development of standardized reporting templates, qualification documentation, validation packages, and technical communication tools.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of aerospace validation processes, reporting practices, documentation systems, and technical services workflows.
• Support implementation of digital tools, knowledge management systems, and future AI-enabled technical services initiatives as appropriate.
• Help establish and maintain standardized test methods, acceptance criteria, and technical reporting practices to improve consistency, traceability, and responsiveness.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:

• Strong technical curiosity and desire to develop expertise in aerospace materials, applications, qualification practices, and customer requirements.
• Foundational understanding of materials science, polymers, coatings, films, laminates, adhesives, or related engineered material systems.
• Ability to execute structured testing, validation, qualification, and technical service activities with strong attention to detail.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills, including the ability to prepare reports, technical summaries, and customer-facing data packages.
• Ability to organize, analyze, and communicate technical data in a clear and professional manner.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate technical issues, identify root causes, and recommend next steps.
• Ability to ask effective questions and gather information to understand customer concerns, application requirements, and technical challenges.
• Understanding of experimental methods, data collection, and laboratory best practices.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines while maintaining high-quality documentation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with R&D, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Business Development, and customers.
• Willingness to continuously learn aerospace applications, qualification methodologies, industry standards, and space-environment considerations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and technical documentation systems.
• Experience with data management, document control, or laboratory information systems is beneficial.
• Ability to support customer-facing technical discussions and represent Dunmore professionally.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required.
• 2-5 years of experience in technical services, product development, validation, quality engineering, laboratory operations, manufacturing support, or a related technical environment preferred.
• Experience with films, coatings, laminates, adhesives, composites, metallized materials, or related engineered materials preferred.
• Experience supporting testing, validation, qualification, process development, technical documentation, or customer technical support activities preferred.
• Experience preparing technical reports, data summaries, specifications, or customer-facing documentation preferred.
• Aerospace, defense, electronics, automotive, energy, or other technically demanding industry experience is beneficial but not required.
• Early-career candidates with strong technical aptitude, demonstrated learning agility, and a passion for materials and aerospace applications are encouraged to apply.

Physical Demands - OFFICE / TRAVEL

• Standing/Sitting 50/50%
• Walking/Bending/Stooping 60/20/20%
• Lifting Requirements: 25 pounds
• Travel by air, rail, auto (up to 15% of time)
• Work in manufacturing area, QA lab and office areas
• Exposures - Odors, Fumes, Noise, Chemicals, Temperature, Vision strain, Moving parts.

Dunmore International Corp. is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Dunmore makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, business needs at the time.