THE WHAT
You will own and develop Blackwave's welding processes and laser surface cleaning technologies at our Garching site. Your focus will be on stabilizing, optimizing, and qualifying manufacturing processes to ensure reliable production and consistent product quality.
Working closely with production and engineering teams, you will provide hands-on technical support, solve manufacturing challenges, and drive continuous process improvements. You will also support the design and implementation of jigs and fixtures to improve manufacturing efficiency.
THE WHY
Welding and laser surface cleaning are critical technologies in the manufacturing of our Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs). Qualified and reliable processes are essential to product quality, production stability, and performance in demanding space applications.
YOUR IMPACT
You will strengthen the quality, reliability, and scalability of our manufacturing operations. By qualifying processes, reducing weld defects, and driving continuous improvements, you will help ensure efficient and stable production.
Your responsibilities in detail and by priority
You will manage and continuously improve welding and laser surface cleaning processes, identifying weaknesses, resolving production issues, and implementing improvements to prevent disruptions.
→ Accountability: Ensure stable and reliable welding and laser manufacturing operations.
You will develop, optimize, and qualify laser processes, including laser welding and laser cleaning. You will also establish and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Welding Procedure Qualification Records (WPQR) to ensure robust and reproducible processes.
→ High Performance: Develop and qualify manufacturing processes that meet demanding technical and quality requirements.
You will investigate welding defects such as porosity, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions. Using methods such as 8D, failure tree analysis, and appropriate inspection techniques, you will continuously improve weld quality.
→ Candor: Identify quality issues, challenge root causes, and address process weaknesses transparently.
You will support the design, verification, and implementation of jigs and fixtures. By developing practical solutions and improving existing tooling concepts, you will reduce engineering lead times and increase manufacturing efficiency.
→ Playfulness: Challenge existing solutions and develop pragmatic, hands-on improvements.
As the engineering point of contact for welding and surface preparation processes across Blackwave, you will share technical expertise, support production teams in resolving challenges, and ensure critical process knowledge is accessible where needed.
→ Togetherness: Share expertise and strengthen manufacturing capabilities through cross-functional support.
Welding & Laser Process Engineer (all genders)
Garching, Taufkirchen
Full-time
Permanent employee
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
YOUR PROFILE
Must-haves
- A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Welding Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a comparable technical field
- At least 3 years of professional experience in welding processes, particularly laser welding, TIG/orbital welding, or electron beam welding
- Good knowledge of aluminium and stainless steel alloys, including their weldability and material-specific challenges
- Experience with weld quality assessment and inspection methods, such as X-ray/CT, leak testing, or metallography
- Experience in root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methods, such as 8D or failure tree analysis
- Fluent English skills (at least B1) and German skills (at least B1)
- Willingness to work fully on-site in Garching and support shift operations when required
- Experience with thin-walled components, liners, or pressure vessel manufacturing
- IWE (International Welding Engineer) or IWT (International Welding Technologist) qualification
- Experience with CAD tools for jig and fixture design, as well as 3D printing and its application in manufacturing tooling
WHAT WE OFFER
Choose your own benefit: Germany ticket, Egym Wellpass, or a tax-free Give Card
Healthy & social lunch culture: Fresh meals during shared lunch breaks
High level of autonomy & real impact: You own a critical seam in the business — between what we sell and what we build
Startup mindset meets aerospace innovation: Flat hierarchies, fast decisions, and space for your ideas
Stunning views: Rooftop terrace with views of the Alps in Taufkirchen, or indoor garden in Garching-Hochbrück
Growth opportunities: Work on technically demanding projects with real stakes
We live our team culture: From tech talks to team events and after-work gatherings — we celebrate success together
About us
Blackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight-qualified, commercial off-the-shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight-ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas.
More information at Blackwave.com and the procurement platform COPV.com.