Composites Manufacturing Engineer

heico; Hood River (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HEICO is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to bridge Engineering and Production, translating requirements into manufacturable designs for high-complexity composites. You will develop tooling, write process docs, and drive continuous shop-floor improvements in collaboration with production and quality teams.

The role involves GD&T application, First Article inspections, and root-cause analysis to prevent recurrence; a hands-on, cross-functional communicator is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years in a manufacturing engineering role, preferably composites/aerospace.
• 3+ years CAD/solid modeling; SolidWorks preferred.
• Strong GD&T knowledge; on‑the‑job training available.
• Experience with composites, materials, and aerospace requirements.
• AS9100 familiarity preferred but not required.
• Self‑starter with analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• U.S. citizen/national or eligible U.S. person.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer requirements into manufacturable designs and tooling.
• Develop lamination and machining processes with production staff.
• Create engineering drawings, work instructions, and process docs.
• Assess production readiness and support new part introductions.
• Apply root cause analysis to resolve recurring issues.
• Train production personnel on processes and GD&T.
• Conduct first article inspections and quality verifications.

Skills

Composite manufacturing

CAD/solid modeling

GD&T knowledge

Documentation/writing

Root cause analysis

AS9100 awareness

MS Office

Communication across teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CMM interpretation

Job description

Role Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer reports directly to the Engineering Manager and serves as the critical link between Engineering and Production teams. This role is responsible for translating customer requirements into manufacturable designs, developing the tooling and processes needed to produce high-complexity composite parts, and driving continuous improvement across the shop floor. This role also supports quality engineering functions such as doing dimensional inspection using CMM machines, creating inspection plans, interpreting GD&T, and doing root cause and corrective action activities.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers and engineering teams to understand product requirements and translate them into practical manufacturing specifications
• Design molds, trim fixtures, and assembly tooling for high-complexity composite part production
• Create and maintain engineering drawings, work instructions, and process documentation to support shop floor execution
• Evaluate production readiness for new products and support the introduction of new parts into the manufacturing workflow
• Develop, document, and continuously improve lamination and machining processes in collaboration with production staff
• Identify and resolve recurring manufacturing issues through structured root cause analysis and corrective action
• Train and support production personnel on process requirements, drawing interpretation, and quality standards
• Perform incoming customer drawing reviews and advise on appropriate tolerances and DFM best practices.
• Develop and refine inspection methods, fixturing, and documentation to support part acceptance and quality verification
• Evaluate new technologies, materials, and methods that could improve manufacturing capability or product quality
• Support First Article Inspection processes and other quality engineering responsibilities
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills & Knowledge

• Solid understanding of composite manufacturing processes, materials, and tooling
• Proficiency in CAD/solid modeling for tooling and fixture design (SolidWorks preferred)
• Ability to produce clear engineering drawings with proper GD&T callouts per ASME Y14.5 or equivalent
• Strong working knowledge of GD&T and its practical application in a manufacturing environment
• Experience writing work instructions, process documentation, and manufacturing procedures
• Familiarity with root cause analysis and corrective action processes
• Foundational knowledge of AS9100 and First Article Inspection; deeper expertise can be developed on the job
• Hands‑on, solutions‑oriented mindset with strong attention to detail
• Effective communicator with the ability to work across engineering, production, and customer‑facing contexts
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role, preferably in composites or aerospace
• 3+ years of CAD/solid modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred)
• Strong understanding of GD&T; advanced on-the-job training available
• Familiarity with composite materials, processes, and aerospace product requirements
• Exposure to AS9100 environments preferred but not required
• Self-starter with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who works well independently and within a team
• Eligible candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawfully admitted permanent resident, or otherwise eligible U.S. person

Skills & Knowledge

• Solid understanding of composite manufacturing processes, materials, and tooling
• Proficiency in CAD/solid modeling for tooling and fixture design (SolidWorks preferred)
• Ability to produce clear engineering drawings with proper GD&T callouts per ASME Y14.5 or equivalent
• Strong working knowledge of GD&T and its practical application in a manufacturing environment
• Experience writing work instructions, process documentation, and manufacturing procedures
• Familiarity with root cause analysis and corrective action processes
• Foundational knowledge of AS9100 and First Article Inspection; deeper expertise can be developed on the job
• Hands‑on, solutions‑oriented mindset with strong attention to detail
• Effective communicator with the ability to work across engineering, production, and customer‑facing contexts
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role, preferably in composites or aerospace
• 3+ years of CAD/solid modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred)
• Strong understanding of GD&T; advanced on-the-job training available
• Familiarity with composite materials, processes, and aerospace product requirements
• Exposure to AS9100 environments preferred but not required
• Self-starter with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who works well independently and within a team
• Eligible candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawfully admitted permanent resident, or otherwise eligible U.S. person