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.
The mission of the Cleaning Laboratory Technologist is to collect control and rinse samples from the cleaning process and perform the laboratory analysis that validates the technical cleanliness of each tank — including Nonvolatile Residue (NVR), particle count, pH, conductivity, and dew point measurement. The role also supports the broader cleaning, drying, and packaging process, applying good laboratory practices to minimize contamination and good documentation practices (ALCOA+: Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, and Available) to ensure every result is trustworthy and traceable.
A successful Cleaning Laboratory Technologist will:
Understand the testing methods and requirements with minimal training
Be able to clean tanks independently
Learn and internalize Blackwave's cleaning process
Identify opportunities for improvement and help implement them
Perform the necessary laboratory analyses to validate technical cleanliness of tanks, following industry best practices
Collect control and rinse samples from the cleaning process
Perform laboratory analysis including NVR, particle count, pH, conductivity, and dew point measurement
Apply good laboratory practices to minimize contamination throughout sample handling and testing
Document all results in accordance with ALCOA+ principles to ensure data is attributable, legible, contemporaneous, original, accurate, complete, consistent, enduring, and available
Support and, when needed, independently carry out the cleaning, drying, and packaging process for tanks
Follow standard operating procedures consistently while identifying opportunities to improve the cleaning and analysis process
Flag deviations, defects, or process risks and escalate them clearly
Work closely with the Cleaning Lead and broader team to maintain reliable, repeatable results
Contribute to a growing knowledge base of cleaning and analysis best practices at the Texas site
Experience in a lab or manufacturing setting (required)
Skilled in NVR and other necessary laboratory analysis techniques, such as filtration and particle count (required)
Able to follow standard operating procedures consistently (required)
Can follow and identify points of improvement for a cleaning and analysis process (required)
Familiar with quality documentation, standards, and industry best practices (required)
Culture Add and Attitude
Hands-on
Flexible to work in a fast-moving environment
Willing to work with leadership to implement process improvements
Coachable and willing to learn
Self-starter — does not need constant supervision to perform the role
Team player with strong communication skills
Problem solver
Technical education, vocational training, or relevant practical experience in a lab or manufacturing setting
Prior experience in lab operations, technical cleanliness, clean room operations, or high-tech packaging is preferred
Background in medical, aerospace, defense, or electronics manufacturing, or in a production bio or chemical lab, is a plus
English is required (fluent)
German is a plus
On-site work is mandatory, first shift
Our current facility is located in Lockhart, Texas (near Austin/San Antonio)
In August 2026, Blackwave will relocate to a new site in the Port San Antonio aerospace hub
Blackwave Texas Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.
This position requires eligibility under U.S. export regulations (ITAR). Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or otherwise authorized to access export-controlled information.
At Blackwave Texas Inc., we hire for talent, curiosity, and the drive to build what’s next. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence, and qualifications.
If you’d like to review our affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at
career@blackwave.de