Aerospace CNC Manufacturing Process Optimization Engineer

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 use

• CNC 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 Lathe
• CAM Software (Mastercam, Mazatrol, Autodesk Fusion 360)
• CNC Mill (5+ axis VMC)
• CNC Lathe (5+ axis)