Leighton Cline

Materials scientist with expertise in materials development, advanced manufacturing, and process scale-up

Research Expertise

Polymer Materials

Materials Science

Materials Development

Advanced Manufacturing

Nanotechnology

Bottom-up self assembly

About

I am a materials researcher and engineer with several years of experience in materials development and advanced manufacturing. My background lies in developing, demonstrating, and maturing advanced technologies for a variety of applications, ranging from electronic textiles to self-assembling nanotechnology, ranging in maturity and readiness from the earliest stages of blank-page ideation to pilot-scale production. My current role is with Blue Origin, where I serve as team lead for the polymer AM group's materials and process team and work to develop stable, mature additive manufacturing processes for crewed space systems. I have a particular interest in research and development for functional polymers, but have a love of any technical challenge related to bringing high-performance materials across the "valley of death" from the lab into the modern factory.

Education

University of Washington

MS, Materials Science and Engineering / December, 2018

Seattle, Washington, United States of America

North Carolina State University

BS, Materials Science and Engineering / May, 2015

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America

Experience

Blue Origin

Materials and Process Engineer / December, 2021 — Present

Lead Polymer Additive Manufacturing materials and process team in developing AM processes and specifications. Scope, cost, and plan execution of internal research projects based on expected ROI or added capabilities to meet technical needs of internal customers. Design and conduct test campaigns to qualify new materials and build processes for on-vehicle and in-space environments (e.g. vacuum, corrosive atmosphere, cryogenic). Perform failure analysis and implement corrective actions to reduce or eliminate print defects. Serve as polymer materials subject matter expert, advise company programs on material properties and suitability for various conditions. Manage research project to evaluate performance of AM polymer materials aboard ISS.

Center for Functional Fabrics at Drexel University

Test and Fabrication Engineer / June, 2019 — November, 2021

Developed analytical methods and techniques for characterization of novel materials in electronic textiles, fiber-based sensors, and soft robotics. Lead technology scale-up projects to translate textile electronics from bench-scale demonstrators to industrially manufacturable systems and pilot processes. Developed polymer formulations and fiber surface modifications for active sensing and conducting fibers in textile electronics. Perform failure analysis on functional fabrics and fibers to drive improvement of materials performance. Collaborated with doctoral and postdoc researchers to design experiments into processing-properties relationships for smart-textile fibers and yarns.

Keon Research

Research Associate / March, 2016 — May, 2017

Consulted with Fortune 500 companies to develop and prototype novel IP based in client portfolio. Performed selection, characterization, validation, and troubleshooting of polymer substrates for flexible RF devices. Designed, built, documented and maintained PVD systems for process trials. Managed materials fabrication and test laboratory, trained technicians on operation of equipment, developed SOPs for materials fabrication and testing.

Links & Social Media

LinkedIn Profile

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