Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

The Manufacturing Engineer will support an aerospace sheet metal forming facility in Chandler, AZ by developing efficient, cost-effective manufacturing processes for complex sheet metal components. The role focuses on translating engineering designs, CAD models, specifications, and purchase order requirements into robust production methods, tooling, and process plans that achieve high quality at the lowest practical cost. The engineer will lead and support new product introduction, continuous improvement, and customer liaison activities within an AS9100-regulated environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct research and development projects related to the design and development of new products and services, particularly in aerospace sheet metal manufacturing.
• Contribute to and follow project plans for new product development orders, ensuring tasks progress on schedule and meet technical and quality requirements.
• Prepare detailed shop operation sketches, instruction sheets, bills of materials, tool orders, and other process documentation to define the most cost-effective integrated fabrication and inspection methods.
• Review customer documentation and specifications and ensure that all manufacturing plans, routings, and process instructions fully reflect customer requirements.
• Design and create complete tooling and fixturing drawings using CAD software to support sheet metal fabrication processes, and develop work orders and plans to fabricate tooling either in-house or through outside suppliers.
• Serve as an engineering liaison with customers, maintaining specific knowledge of customer quality requirements and specifications and communicating effectively to address technical issues and inquiries.
• Resolve implementation and process problems on the shop floor and respond quickly to liaison requests related to manufacturing issues.
• Provide technical assistance to shop and inspection personnel, perform MRB (Material Review Board) dispositions, and conduct investigations to resolve quality and process problems.
• Maintain close working relationships with all departments and individuals involved in assigned projects and coordinate with customer representatives as necessary to support program success.
• Monitor manufacturing cell metrics, including gross margin, scrap, rework, 5S, and other continuous improvement indicators, and identify improvement opportunities with actionable plans to address them.
• Conduct special studies to develop and establish standard hours, cost data, and other metrics to support cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Consult with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders to discuss and formulate estimates, clarify requirements, and resolve technical or process issues.
• Create and maintain process layouts and routings, ensuring accurate and efficient workflow definitions for 3-7 years of experience in this area.
• Apply GD&T principles in daily work to ensure accurate interpretation and communication of dimensional and tolerance requirements on drawings and process documents.
• Use lean tools such as Six Sigma and value stream mapping (VSM) to identify and implement process improvements across manufacturing cells.
• Support or participate in multi-axis programming activities, such as laser cutting or other CNC processes, where applicable.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned to support production, engineering, and continuous improvement objectives.

Essential Skills include:

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Engineering, or at least seven (7) years of related experience, or a combination of education and experience in a manufacturing environment focused on exotic sheet metal, preferably in aerospace.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in manufacturing engineering, tooling design, and manufacturing process development for metal forming and aerospace sheet metal components; candidates without a degree may require 10-15 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication methods such as hydro forming, heat treat, brazing, laser cutting, brake forming, welding (TIG and resistance), and NDT processes; in some roles, at least seven (7) years of experience with these methods is required.
• Proficiency in sheet metal manufacturing methods using metals such as aluminum, nickel alloys, stainless steels, and titanium, with at least seven (7) years of experience in these materials in certain positions.
• Strong CAD modeling experience, including designing tools and fixtures for sheet metal forming; candidates should have at least seven (7) years of CAD experience and be able to rate their CAD ability at 7/10 or higher.
• Ability to design tooling for sheet metal forming using CAD, with a minimum of three (3) years of experience with a BS degree or seven (7) years without a degree.
• Daily, practical command of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing), demonstrated through consistent use in recent work experience.
• Experience in process layout and routing creation,…