Aerospace CNC Manufacturing Process Optimization Engineer

Location: West Terre Haute

Day-in-the-life

You start your morning on the shop floor, reviewing Cp/Cpk dashboards and first-article results. A cycle-time opportunity jumps out, so you refine feeds, speeds, and toolpaths, then validate on the machine. By midday, you’re shoulder-to-shoulder with machinists dialing in chatter mitigation and tool wear strategies. In the afternoon, you finalize new work instructions and control plans aligned to AS9100, close a corrective action from a recent audit, and finish the day evaluating a new 5-axis platform for an upcoming program.

What you’ll own Developing and optimizing end-to-end manufacturing processes for precision aerospace components across CNC machining, secondary finishing, and assembly.

Specifying tooling, fixturing, and process parameters to consistently hit tight tolerances and surface finish requirements.

Reducing cycle times, improving yields, and minimizing scrap through robust methods and data-driven experimentation.

Creating or supporting CNC programs in CAM and providing hands-on technical support on the floor.

Troubleshooting cutting issues including tool wear, chatter, thermal/drift effects, and dimensional variation.

Maintaining rigorous process documentation (work instructions, control plans) aligned with aerospace standards such as AS9100 and specific customer requirements.

Leading root cause analysis and implementing effective corrective actions for non-conformances.

Driving Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives; analyzing and improving capability (Cp/Cpk) to stabilize processes.

Partnering with Design Engineering to advance DFM and part producibility early in the lifecycle.

Collaborating with Quality, Production, and Supply Chain and interfacing with customers and auditors as required.

Assessing and introducing new CNC equipment, tooling, and technologies; supporting capital projects and process validation.

What you bring

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent experience).3–7 years working in aerospace or precision machining environments.

Deep knowledge of CNC milling, turning, and multi-axis machining.

Fluency in interpreting complex engineering drawings and GD&T.Machines & technologies you’ll useCNC Mill (3-4 axis VMC) (Fanuc, Bridgeport, Mazak, ProtoTRAK, Haas, Okuma, Doosan, Kitamura, Makino, Brother, Hurco, Dmg Mori Seiki, Hwachon)
CNC Lathe (2-4 axis) (Mazak, Haas, Okuma, Doosan, Takisawa, Dmg Mori Seiki, Samsung, Murata, Fuji, Nakamura, Hyundai - Wia, Hwachon, Quick Tech)
CNC Swiss LatheCAM Software (Mastercam, Mazatrol, Autodesk Fusion 360)
CNC Mill (5+ axis VMC)
CNC Lathe (5+ axis)