A method for joining engine components includes positioning a first plurality of thermal protection structures across a thermal protection space between a first thermal protection surface and a second thermal protection surface. The first and second engine components are locally joined by forming a first plurality of transient liquid phase (TLP) or partial transient liquid phase (PTLP) bonds along corresponding ones of the first plurality of thermal protection structures between the first thermal protection surface and the second thermal protection surface. The second thermal protection surface is formed from a second surface material different from a first surface material of the first thermal protection surface.