Quality Control Lab Scientist

About the role

Firehawk is a propulsion‑focused defense company headquartered in Addison, TX, combining advanced manufacturing with innovative engineering to produce reliable and cost‑effective solid rocket motors. Firehawk maintains a rigorous, safety‑driven culture across all laboratory and production operations to ensure the highest standards of quality in every stage of propulsion development. As we expand our programs and capabilities, Firehawk offers motivated professionals the opportunity to directly contribute to the precision, consistency, and performance of next‑generation rocket systems. The Quality Control Lab Scientist, based in Midland, TX, provides technical support for laboratory testing that verifies material and product conformance with engineering, customer, military, and industry requirements. This role develops and improves test methods, evaluates laboratory capability, performs testing, analyzes data, and supports engineering and quality functions. The position interacts closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program, and Quality teams to ensure laboratory outputs are accurate, reliable, and aligned with technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory testing and technical evaluations in accordance with engineering requirements, customer specifications, and relevant MIL / industry standards.
• Develop, document, validate, and improve laboratory test methods, instructions, setups, and acceptance criteria.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements to determine testing needs and ensure appropriate test methods are selected.
• Design or specify fixtures, instrumentation, and equipment required for laboratory testing.
• Evaluate laboratory equipment for suitability, capability, accuracy, and precision, and support calibration and maintenance activities.
• Analyze test data for technical validity, trends, anomalies, and conformance; identify potential issues related to product behavior, test methods, or equipment performance.
• Investigate abnormal or unexpected test results and contribute to troubleshooting, nonconformance evaluations, and failure investigations.
• Establish appropriate test parameters and controls for technical and contractual requirements.
• Provide engineering judgment for complex or developmental laboratory testing and data interpretation.
• Prepare and review technical test reports, documentation, and supporting records.