Sr. Manufacturing Engineer; Composites

Job Title:

Sr Manufacturing Engineer (Composites)

Salary range: $121,800 - $182,400

Location:

Arizona - for hybrid work in Nogales, Sonora

Start Date:

Right Away

Keywords: #Nogales Jobs; #Manufacturing Engineer Jobs ;

A leading aerospace and regulated manufacturing organization is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Composites to support and elevate operations at its Nogales, MX facility. This is a high-impact role focused on composite manufacturing process improvement, documentation standardization, and production readiness.

This position is ideal for a seasoned engineer with deep experience in hand layup composite manufacturing environments who can step into an existing operation, identify gaps, and drive meaningful improvements across processes, tooling, and documentation. The role offers strong visibility and the opportunity to influence long-term manufacturing strategy, with potential for future leadership growth.

• Evaluate current-state composite manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for improvement
• Drive process optimization, standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop, update, and maintain work instructions, process documentation, and material specifications
• Improve manufacturing efficiency by addressing repeat issues, defects, and process inconsistencies
• Support production readiness, process qualification, and manufacturing validation activities
• Lead or support root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, quality, engineering, and leadership teams
• Recommend and implement tooling and fixture improvements to enhance manufacturability and throughput
• Support stabilization and optimization of transferred work from other sites
• Operate effectively within a matrix organization, coordinating across multiple teams and stakeholders
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, with potential to grow into a people management role

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related)
• 7+ years of experience in composite manufacturing or process engineering
• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • Hand layup composite manufacturing
  • Autoclave and/or oven cure processes
• Experience working with composite materials including:
  • Epoxies
  • Carbon fiber
  • Core structures
  • Solid laminate constructions
• Proven experience improving manufacturing processes and reducing repeat issues
• Strong background in technical documentation, including work instructions and process specifications
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments (aerospace, defense, or similar)
• Familiarity with AS9100, NADCAP, or equivalent quality systems
• Experience supporting root cause analysis and corrective action processes
• Ability to work onsite in Nogales, MX on a hybrid or travel-based schedule

• Aerospace composites manufacturing experience
• Experience with tooling and fixture design or improvement
• Background in process transfer, industrialization, or production ramp-up
• Experience working in a matrix organization across multiple sites or regions
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) - preferred but not required
• Prior leadership or team management experience
• Experience supporting cross-border or multi-site manufacturing operations
• Hybrid flexibility available depending on candidate location
• Ideal candidates may be based in Southern Arizona (Tucson preferred) with regular onsite presence in Nogales
• Role requires hands-on involvement in a manufacturing environment

• Eliminating repeat manufacturing issues and inefficiencies
• Strengthening process discipline and documentation standards
• Improving tooling, workflows, and production consistency
• Bridging gaps from previous work transfers and process misalignment
• Elevating the overall manufacturing maturity of the operation

This is an opportunity to step into a critical role where you can make an immediate and measurable impact. You'll work on complex composite manufacturing challenges, influence how processes are built and maintained, and help shape the future direction of a growing operation. Strong performers will have the opportunity to expand into leadership roles as the team evolves.

Belcan is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.