@Just The Wind Yes that's fine, you can have him be a member of the science community, the main engineers that would have been conscripted (if civs) on joining the ship would be ones in less specialized departments.
If you want the friction, you can still have him be conscripted and have them try and slot him into the structure.
If you want the friction, you can still have him be conscripted and have them try and slot him into the structure.