Director of Manufacturing Engineering - Aerospace CNC

Ilocatum; Bay Shore (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilocatum seeks a Director of Manufacturing Engineering to lead manufacturing engineering, CNC programming, digital manufacturing, and NPI for aerospace components. This hands-on senior role will guide complex parts from customer drawings through first-article acceptance and stable production, delivering improved readiness and shorter NPI lead times.

You will build a high-performing technical team, develop a multiyear digital manufacturing strategy, and collaborate across Operations, Quality,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, or advanced manufacturing.
• Strong practical expertise in CATIA manufacturing and CAM workflows.
• Experience with VERICUT or equivalent NC verification and machine simulation tools.
• Demonstrated experience leading NPI, first-article activities, manufacturing readiness, or production launches for complex metallic components.
• Advanced understanding of CNC machining, multi-axis process development, tooling, fixtures, workholding, and controlled program release.
• Knowledge of GD&T, CMM inspection, on-machine probing, special processes, process validation, and AS9100 manufacturing environments.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities involving customer deadlines, material constraints, and machine capacity.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with operators, programmers, customers, and senior leadership.
• Ability to work onsite in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Eligibility to access export-controlled technical data and work within the required controlled environment, as determined by applicable regulations and contract requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineers, CNC programmers, and technical resources.
• Translate customer drawings, CATIA models, specifications, and technical requirements into production-ready processes.
• Guide complex milling, turning, mill-turn, and multi-axis machining strategies for aerospace materials and precision components.
• Establish and maintain CATIA CAM standards, reusable programming methods, tooling libraries, postprocessor practices, setup documentation, and program release controls.
• Strengthen CNC verification using VERICUT or equivalent software with accurate machine models.
• Improve cycle times, setups, machine utilization, and process capability while meeting quality and customer requirements.
• Lead engineering activities from design transfer through first-article approval and production launch.
• Establish clear NPI milestones, readiness reviews, project ownership, and escalation procedures.
• Prioritize projects based on customer commitments, material availability, machine capacity, and technical risk.
• Coordinate programming, tooling, fixture development, inspection planning, and operator preparation during material lead times.
• Reduce scrap, rework, and proof-out risk through simulation, technical reviews, and documented corrective actions.
• Evaluate additive manufacturing applications for fixtures, prototypes, and surrogate parts that support process development and validation.
• Develop multiyear digital manufacturing roadmap connecting engineering models, process plans, CNC programs, verification, inspection, and production costs.
• Capture machining expertise in controlled standards, libraries, and reusable part-family methods.
• Evaluate automation and AI-assisted tools for programming, knowledge management, and manufacturing estimating, with proper reviews.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, Finance, and IT to improve manufacturing performance.
• Develop business cases for software, simulation, additive manufacturing, and automation investments.
• Support consistent engineering practices and knowledge sharing across facilities.
• Set priorities and development plans for the engineering team.
• Be a customer-facing technical leader for manufacturability, process readiness, validation, corrective action, and recovery planning.
• Manage outside technical resources while maintaining internal ownership of standards and manufacturing knowledge.

Skills

CATIA CAM workflows

NPI leadership

CNC integration

Process improvement

Multi-axis machining

Problem solving

Communication

Team leadership

On-site work capability

Export control compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or related field

Tools

VERICUT

CATIA

CMM software

Job description

We are searching for Director of Manufacturing Engineering to lead manufacturing engineering, CNC programming, digital manufacturing, and new product introduction (NPI).

This hands-on leadership role will guide complex, flight-critical components from customer drawings and models through first-article acceptance and stable production. The successful candidate will improve production readiness, shorten NPI lead times, strengthen programming and verification standards, and develop a high-performing technical team.

The position offers the opportunity to make an immediate impact on manufacturing performance while building a long-term digital manufacturing strategy that can support multiple facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Engineering & CNC Programming

• Lead manufacturing engineers, methods engineers, CNC programmers, and supporting technical resources.

• Translate customer drawings, CATIA models, specifications, and technical requirements into controlled, production-ready manufacturing processes.

• Guide complex milling, turning, mill-turn, and multi-axis machining strategies for aerospace materials and precision components.

• Establish and maintain CATIA CAM standards, reusable programming methods, tooling libraries, postprocessor practices, setup documentation, and program release controls.

• Strengthen CNC verification using VERICUT or equivalent software, including accurate machine, fixture, stock, tool, and holder models.

• Improve cycle times, setups, machine utilization, and process capability while maintaining quality and customer requirements.

New Product Introduction & Production Readiness

• Lead engineering activities from design transfer through first-article approval and production launch.

• Establish clear NPI milestones, readiness reviews, project ownership, and escalation procedures.

• Prioritize projects based on customer commitments, material availability, machine capacity, and technical risk.

• Coordinate programming, tooling, fixture development, inspection planning, and operator preparation during material lead times.

• Reduce scrap, rework, and proof-out risk through simulation, technical reviews, and documented corrective actions.

• Evaluate additive manufacturing applications for fixtures, prototypes, and surrogate parts that support process development and validation.

Digital Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and execute a multiyear digital manufacturing roadmap connecting engineering models, process plans, CNC programs, verification, inspection, and actual production costs.

• Capture machining expertise in controlled standards, libraries, and reusable part-family methods.

• Evaluate automation and AI-assisted tools for programming, knowledge management, and manufacturing estimating, with appropriate technical review and approval.

• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, Finance, and IT to improve manufacturing performance.

• Develop business cases for software, simulation, additive manufacturing, and automation investments.

• Support consistent engineering practices and knowledge sharing across facilities.

Team & Customer Leadership

• Set clear priorities, performance expectations, and development plans for the engineering team.

• Build a culture of accountability, timely problem-solving, technical discipline, and continuous improvement.

• Serve as a customer-facing technical leader for manufacturability, process readiness, validation, corrective action, and recovery planning.

• Manage outside technical resources while maintaining internal ownership of standards, approvals, and manufacturing knowledge.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline; an equivalent combination of education and demonstrated accomplishments will be considered.

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, or advanced manufacturing, including technical leadership.

• Strong practical expertise in CATIA manufacturing and CAM workflows, including production programming and machining process development.

• Experience with VERICUT or equivalent independent NC verification and machine simulation tools.

• Demonstrated experience leading NPI, first-article activities, manufacturing readiness, or production launches for complex metallic components.

• Advanced understanding of CNC machining, multi-axis process development, tooling, fixtures, workholding, and controlled program release.

• Knowledge of GD&T, CMM inspection, on-machine probing, special processes, process validation, and AS9100 manufacturing environments.

• Proven ability to manage competing priorities involving customer deadlines, material constraints, and machine capacity.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with operators, programmers, customers, and senior leadership.

• Ability to work onsite in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Eligibility to access export-controlled technical data and work within the required controlled environment, as determined by applicable regulations and contract requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience manufacturing landing gear, actuation systems, rotorcraft components, structural parts, turbine-engine components, or comparable flight-critical hardware.

• Experience implementing CATIA templates, knowledgeware, feature-based programming, or automated manufacturing workflows.

• Advanced VERICUT configuration or machining optimization experience.

• Familiarity with model-based definition, digital manufacturing, digital twins, MES/ERP integration, or Industry 4.0 initiatives.

• Practical experience using additive manufacturing for tooling, fixtures, work aids, or NPI development.

• Experience improving manufacturing estimates using historical setup, cycle-time, tooling, inspection, and cost data.

• Experience establishing engineering standards, shared technical