Metallurgical Supervisor

Beehive Industries is dedicated to Powering American Defense by revolutionizing the design, development, and delivery of jet propulsion systems to support the warfighter. Through the integration of additive manufacturing, the company aims to meet the growing and urgent needs for unmanned aerial defense by dramatically improving a jet engine’s speed to market, fuel efficiency, and cost.  

Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, with additional facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee, Loveland Ohio, and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Beehive is committed to grow and advance the defense industrial base while manufacturing exclusively in the USA. This role will be located at our Knoxville, Tennessee facility.

Role Overview 

The Metallurgical Supervisor leads day-to-day laboratory operations supporting materials development, Additive Manufacturing (AM) process development, and production operations. This role oversees metallurgical testing, material characterization, metallographic sample preparation, laboratory equipment, and technical documentation to ensure accurate, reliable, and timely test results. The Supervisor provides technical guidance and direction to laboratory personnel, establishes priorities and manages testing schedules, and ensures compliance with established test methods, quality requirements, and laboratory safety standards. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and other cross-functional teams, this role supports material qualification, process development, root cause investigations, and continuous improvement while maintaining a high standard of technical rigor, operational efficiency, and laboratory readiness.

What You’ll Do...

• Supervise daily laboratory operations, including work assignments, testing priorities, resource allocation, and workload management to ensure timely and accurate completion of laboratory activities.

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for metallographic sample preparation, microscopy, material characterization, mechanical testing, and other laboratory procedures.

• Lead and develop laboratory personnel through training, technical coaching, performance feedback, and the establishment of consistent work practices and testing standards.

• Oversee the execution of material testing and characterization activities in accordance with applicable standards, approved procedures, customer requirements, and internal quality processes.

• Review and validate laboratory data, test reports, and technical documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, traceability, and conformance to established requirements.

• Oversee powder characterization, tensile testing, hardness testing, heat-treatment evaluations, metallographic analysis, and other material testing activities based on business needs.

• Establish and maintain laboratory procedures, work instructions, testing protocols, equipment records, calibration requirements, and sample traceability practices.

• Monitor laboratory performance, including testing turnaround times, workload, equipment utilization, data quality, and adherence to established procedures. Identify and implement improvements as needed.

• Coordinate laboratory equipment maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and qualification activities to ensure equipment availability and measurement reliability.

• Lead or support material evaluations, root cause investigations, nonconformance investigations, and corrective action activities in partnership with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and other stakeholders.

• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety requirements, PPE standards, chemical handling practices, metal powder handling protocols, housekeeping expectations, and applicable environmental, health, and safety requirements.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to define testing requirements, resolve technical issues, communicate findings, and align laboratory resources with production and development priorities.

• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory methods, workflows, equipment capabilities, data management, and overall operational effectiveness.

• Support the development of laboratory capabilities, including new testing methods, characterization technologies, equipment implementation, and personnel competency as business needs evolve.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

You have...

Education

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline preferred.

Experience

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in metallurgical testing, materials characterization, materials engineering, or a related laboratory environment, with demonstrated technical expertise in metallography and material evaluation.

• At least 2–3 years of experience leading, supervising, or coordinating laboratory personnel, technical teams, or complex laboratory operations.

• Demonstrated experience overseeing laboratory testing activities, reviewing technical data, and ensuring compliance with established procedures, testing standards, and quality requirements.

• Experience with multiple material characterization and mechanical testing methods, including metallographic sample preparation, optical microscopy, hardness testing, tensile testing, and microstructural evaluation.

• Experience managing laboratory priorities, equipment availability, testing schedules, and competing requests from multiple stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical issues, evaluate anomalous results, and support material investigations and root cause analysis.

• Experience developing or improving laboratory procedures, work instructions, testing protocols, and documentation practices.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical understanding of metallurgy, materials science, microstructures, material properties, and metallographic principles.

• Advanced working knowledge of metallographic sample preparation, optical microscopy, microstructural evaluation, and material defect identification.

• Working knowledge of mechanical testing methods, including tensile testing, hardness testing, and other material characterization techniques.

• Familiarity with advanced characterization equipment and techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), chemical analysis systems, and other relevant analytical technologies.

• Understanding of metal additive manufacturing processes, including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ), and their effects on material properties, microstructure, and process performance.

• Working knowledge of metal powder characterization, powder handling, and the associated material and safety considerations.

• Ability to interpret technical data, identify trends and anomalies, assess test validity, and communicate meaningful conclusions to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to establish expectations, delegate work, develop employee capabilities, and hold team members accountable for safety, quality, and performance.

• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands and manage laboratory capacity, resources, and turnaround times.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to lead technical troubleshooting and structured investigations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word, and the ability to use data analysis tools to evaluate and communicate laboratory results.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, communicate test findings, and collaborate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and other functions.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound technical judgment, and make decisions within established quality and operational requirements.

• Demonstrated commitment to laboratory safety, technical integrity, continuous improvement, and the development of a high-performing laboratory team.

• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Nice to have...

• Experience in additive manufacturing, aerospace, defense, propulsion, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.

• Experience supporting metal additive manufacturing technologies, particularly LPBF and MBJ, including process development, material qualification, and production readiness.

• Experience with advanced material characterization techniques and equipment, including SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX), and other microscopy or chemical analysis systems.

• Experience with metal powder characterization, including particle size distribution, particle morphology, flowability, apparent density, and tap density.

• Experience evaluating heat-treatment processes and their effects on material properties, microstructure, and mechanical performance.

• Experience establishing or managing laboratory quality systems, equipment calibration programs, measurement traceability, and testing method validation.

• Experience with ERP, QMS, LIMS, or other systems used for laboratory tracking, nonconformance reporting, document control, calibration management, and technical data retention.

• Experience leading root cause investigations, material failure analysis, nonconformance investigations, and corrective action implementation.

• Experience introducing new laboratory equipment, developing new test methods, qualifying laboratory capabilities, or scaling laboratory operations to support increased production demand.

• Experience working with industry standards and specifications applicable to metallurgical testing, such as ASTM, ISO, or relevant aerospace material and testing standards.

• Experience developing technician training programs, competency assessments, standardized work instructions, and laboratory performance metrics.

If this sounds like you, please submit an application with your resume. This could be the opportunity you are looking for to expand your skills, contribute to a winning team, and work with talented people who love what they do and take pride in our mission. 

Beehive Industries offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term disability coverage from day one. We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match. Every role at Beehive Industries is bonus eligible and will also receive equity in the company.

Beehive Industries is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.