Manufacturing Engineer

Poseidon Aerospace; California (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity opportunities

Relocation support

Health benefits

Retirement matching 6%

Flexible PTO

Free lunches and snacks

Job summary

Poseidon Aerospace is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to design tooling, fixtures, and jigs for composite aircraft assembly. You will program CAM workflows and machine parts on vertical mills and multi-axis CNCs, delivering precision tooling on startup timelines.

You will validate tooling with first article inspections, apply GD&T, and collaborate with design engineers to improve manufacturability and throughput, while evolving tooling as aircraft designs advance.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in CAD software for designing tooling, fixtures, and jigs.
• Hands-on CAM programming experience and ability to machine own parts on vertical mills and multi-axis CNC equipment.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and ability to apply proper tolerancing to tooling designs.
• Knowledge of composite materials and their tooling requirements.
• Experience with metrology equipment and inspection techniques.
• Understanding of design for manufacturing principles and composite processes.
• Self-directed problem solver in a fast-moving team.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver tooling, jigs, and fixtures for aircraft assembly and fabrication processes.
• Program and machine tooling components using CAM software and CNC equipment.
• Prototype manufacturing solutions for evolving aircraft designs and assembly sequences.
• Conduct first article inspections and dimensional validation of tooling.
• Provide DFM feedback and influence part designs for manufacturability.
• Develop and document assembly procedures and tooling guidelines.
• Troubleshoot and iterate tooling designs from production feedback.
• Maintain and improve tooling as designs evolve.

Skills

CAD proficiency

CAM programming

GD&T tolérance

CNC machining

metrology tools

manufacturing mindset

problem solving

Education

Mechanical/CAM degree or equivalent

Tools

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

Haas control

Job description

About Poseidon Aerospace:

Poseidon Aerospace is reimagining how the world moves goods. We build and operate full-size autonomous cargo aircraft - capable of carrying two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. From remote communities to contested logistics operations, our platforms unlock a new cost curve for air freight, making it faster, cheaper, and accessible anywhere it's needed. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations in Washington DC, Oregon, and Maine; we're building something consequential.

As a Manufacturing Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will design and machine the tooling that brings our composite aircraft to life. You'll own the complete process from CAD design through CAM programming to running parts on our mills and routers, delivering functional jigs and fixtures on startup timelines. We need someone who thinks with their hands and can rapidly translate design requirements into precision tooling.

Responsibilities:

• Design and deliver tooling, jigs, and fixtures for aircraft assembly and fabrication processes

• Program and machine custom tooling components using CAM software and CNC equipment

• Rapidly prototype manufacturing solutions to support evolving aircraft designs and assembly sequences

• Conduct first article inspections and dimensional validation of tooling to ensure design intent is met

• Collaborate with design engineers to provide DFM feedback and influence part designs for improved manufacturability

• Develop and document assembly procedures, work instructions, and tooling usage guidelines

• Troubleshoot and iterate on tooling designs based on real-world assembly feedback from the production floor

• Maintain and improve existing tooling as aircraft designs evolve through development cycles

Ideal Qualifications:

• Proficiency in CAD software (Fusion, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for designing tooling, fixtures, and jigs

• Hands-on CAM programming experience and ability to machine own parts on vertical mills and multi-axis CNC equipment

• Strong understanding of GD&T and ability to apply proper tolerancing to tooling designs

• Knowledge of composite materials and their unique tooling requirements (layup surfaces, cure tooling, trim fixtures)

• Experience with metrology equipment (calipers, micrometers, height gauges) and inspection techniques

• Understanding of design for manufacturing principles and common composite manufacturing processes (layup, bonding, trimming, drilling)

• Self-directed problem solver comfortable working independently while supporting a small, fast-moving team

• Ability to balance speed with precision—knowing when "good enough" is appropriate versus when tight tolerances are critical

Nice to have:

• Experience with Fusion 360 for integrated CAD/CAM workflow

• Hands-on experience with Haas vertical mills

• Gantry-style CNC router programming and operation

• Multi-axis (4th/5th axis) CAM programming experience

• Hands-on composite layup or composite trimming experience

• Welding experience for fixture fabrication

• Experience with FDM for rapid tooling prototypes

What you get from us

• Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity

• Relocation support if applicable

• Employee Health Benefit Plans

• 6% Retirement matching

• Flexible PTO

• Free lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our offices

• AI tools and subscriptions