Manufacturing Enginer
BS-level Process Engineering roles on Crosslinked list a median of $113k (699 that show pay). This posting does not list pay.
Optimize composite lay-up, curing, bonding and finishing processes for aerospace/defense part production.
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Worth knowing
Why it is interesting. Own the full composite process chain — lay-up, curing, bonding, tooling — with Lean/Six Sigma and IIoT monitoring in an aerospace/defense setting.
Might not be for you. Production-floor continuous-improvement focus with heavy documentation (PFMEA, work instructions, ECOs) rather than open-ended R&D.
Adjacent materials roleExperience with composite materials and processes, such as prepreg lay-up, resin infusion, autoclave, or curing; optimize processes for composite lay-up, curing, bonding
- Seniority
- Mid-level
- Work
- On-site
- Type
- Full-time
- Degree
- BS
- Experience
- 2–5 yrs
- Industry
- Aerospace
- Role
- Process Engineering
Role details
Manufacturing Engineer
Location: Northwest Indiana Job Type: Full-time
Description
The Manufacturing Engineer supports manufacturing operations through process optimization, continuous improvement, and technical problem-solving in composite part production. Working closely with manufacturing leadership, this role ensures that production processes are stable, efficient, and capable of meeting organizational goals related to quality, delivery, cost, and safety.
The Manufacturing Engineer will collaborate with production, quality, maintenance, and design engineering teams to develop and sustain world-class composite manufacturing processes.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop, document, and optimize manufacturing processes for composite lay-up, curing, machining, bonding, and finishing.
- Design and implement jigs, fixtures, molds, and process aids to ensure repeatability, ergonomics, and operator safety.
- Support new product introductions (NPI) by creating process plans, routing steps, and tooling to enable smooth transition from prototype to production.
- Ensure processes comply with applicable quality and engineering standards, including aerospace, defense, and industrial specifications.
- Lead and participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on scrap reduction, cycle time improvement, and yield enhancement.
- Conduct time studies, workflow analysis, and root cause investigations to eliminate waste and resolve bottlenecks.
- Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, including 5S, DMAIC, and value stream mapping, to improve key manufacturing KPIs.
- Develop, standardize, and maintain work instructions aligned with current processes.
- Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), ensuring accurate implementation of manufacturing documentation and routings.
- Collaborate with design engineering to evaluate manufacturability during product development and design reviews.
- Maintain up-to-date manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, process flows, and PFMEAs.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
- Perform statistical analysis, including SPC and DOE, to validate process capability and reduce variability.
- Support development of data visualization tools, such as Power BI and Grafana, for real-time performance monitoring.
- Identify and support implementation of automation opportunities in composite manufacturing processes.
- Collaborate with internal and external partners on automation integration and process control technologies.
- Support development and maintenance of IIoT-enabled monitoring systems.
- Partner with Quality Engineering to perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Develop and validate process controls to prevent non-conformances.
- Participate in MRB activities and provide technical input on non-conforming material disposition.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Education & Training
- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with composite materials and processes, such as prepreg lay-up, resin infusion, autoclave, or curing, strongly preferred.
- Industry certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), or Composite Manufacturing certification are a plus.
Knowledge & Experience
Priority Experiences
- 2–5 years of hands-on manufacturing engineering experience in a composite or advanced materials environment.
- Proven ability to improve production processes using Lean and Six Sigma tools.
- Experience supporting cross-functional teams in a project-based manufacturing environment.
- Familiarity with composite tooling design, curing processes, and material handling best practices.
Core Role Knowledge
- Strong understanding of composite manufacturing methods, including hand lay-up, vacuum bagging, filament winding, resin transfer molding, or autoclave curing.
- Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or AutoCAD for tooling and process design.
- Knowledge of ECO/NPI workflows and manufacturing documentation requirements.
- Familiarity with ERP and MES systems; experience with manufacturing planning and production management systems is a plus.
- Basic knowledge of statistical tools, including DOE and SPC, and data analytics platforms such as Excel, Power BI, and SQL.
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