Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Role details

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Manufacturing Engineer for a leading aerospace and defense composite manufacturer in Hayden, ID, operating as a business unit of a multi-site composites platform serving the space, defense, and aviation markets. The Manufacturing Engineer will own the development, evaluation, and improvement of manufacturing processes for complex composite aerostructures — from lamination and cure through machining, assembly, and inspection. This is a hands-on, shop-floor-present role responsible for building and maintaining manufacturing plans, tooling strategies, and work instructions that drive repeatable, high-quality production execution.

The engineer works cross-functionally with program engineering, quality, and production teams to ensure lean plans are created, implemented, and continuously improved.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain process control techniques and procedures within the composite manufacturing environment.
• Build and own manufacturing plans from initial process definition through production release, including layup sequences, cure cycles, machining operations, and assembly methods.
• Define and develop tooling and fixture requirements; create and maintain accurate tool drawings, design concepts, and shop orders in accordance with manufacturing engineering standards.
• Continuously analyze manufacturing process flows for improvements in quality, cost reduction, and throughput.
• Collaborate with Program Engineering on product and tooling design to ensure producibility and effective production methods.
• Partner closely with the manufacturing department to develop, coordinate, and implement build plans; create technical training for shop floor personnel.
• Design manufacturing processes for new products, engineering changes, and capability enhancements — with a focus on zero-defect execution and cost efficiency.
• Provide hands-on engineering support on the shop floor to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems in real time.
• Perform production readiness evaluations and producibility assessments for all engineering changes.
• Support and uphold company Lean Manufacturing practices, Kaizen initiatives, and standard operating procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline.
• Hands-on experience in composite manufacturing — including hand layup, cure processes, and post-cure machining — within an aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of composite materials and their behavior: fiber orientation, resin systems, cure cycles, and how material and process decisions affect part quality and structural performance.
• Demonstrated ability to develop manufacturing plans, work instructions, and build packages from engineering drawings and design intent.
• Experience designing or specifying tooling and fixtures for composite fabrication and assembly operations.
• Proficiency in blueprint reading and GD&T as applied to composite and machined aerostructure components.
• Proven track record working directly on the shop floor with operators, technicians, and production teams — not a desk engineering role.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable troubleshooting in a fast-paced, production-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to implement Lean Manufacturing initiatives and standard operating procedures within a manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace or defense composite manufacturing environments (AS9100, NADCAP familiarity a plus).
• Exposure to 5-axis CNC machining of composite components.
• Familiarity with NDI/NDT methods used to inspect composite assemblies (ultrasonic, x-ray, etc.).
• Background in metal-to-composite conversion or DFM for composite structures.
• Experience with filament winding or other advanced composite fabrication methods.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience scaling new product introductions (NPI) from development into stable production.

Salary

$100,000 - $125,000

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