Manufacturing Engineer III (Airfoil Programming)

Pursuit Aerospace; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and disability insurance

401(k) match

Flexible spending accounts

EAP

Paid time off

Company-paid holidays

Job summary

Pursuit Aerospace seeks a Manufacturing Engineer III to lead CNC turning/milling efforts and drive process improvements across aerospace operations. You will own process plans, develop CNC programs, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

The role requires on-site shop-floor involvement and travel as needed to support division sites. A strong background in Lean/Six Sigma and AS9100 is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and at least 7 years aerospace manufacturing engineering experience OR 10 years aerospace manufacturing experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without sponsorship.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead CNC turning and milling manufacturing efforts, providing technical direction and support for complex setups, programming strategies, and process optimization.
• Own the development, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing process plans, ensuring robust, repeatable, and compliant production.
• Develop, review, and optimize CNC programs to improve quality, cycle time, and cost, while supporting standardization and best practices across programs.
• Serve as a primary manufacturing engineering point of contact for customer interactions, supporting issue resolution, blueprint interpretation, and implementation of engineering changes.
• Lead tooling design, sourcing, and implementation efforts, balancing manufacturability, cost, and long-term production needs.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for complex or recurring production issues, ensuring sustainable solutions are implemented.
• Drive process improvement initiatives focused on first-pass yield, throughput, and equipment uptime, with measurable performance results.
• Evaluate, justify, and support implementation of new equipment, tooling, and manufacturing technologies to improve operational performance.
• Provide senior-level technical guidance and informal mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers, supporting skills development and engineering consistency.
• Develop and review cost estimates for products, tooling, equipment, and processes, supporting quoting, capacity planning, and business decisions.
• Ensure manufacturing documentation-including process instructions, CNC programs, SOPs, and setup sheets-is accurate, standardized, and maintained.
• Support compliance with Pursuit Aerospace quality systems, safety requirements, and regulatory standards, promoting best practices within daily operations.
• Lead Kaizen workshops
• Operate in a hands-on environment where engineers are expected to be on the shop floor 50%+ of the time supporting the operators and operations

Skills

CNC milling

CNC turning

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Root cause analysis

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

NX / Solid Edge

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

About Us:

As a global manufacturer of complex aircraft engine components, Pursuit Aerospace is founded on a commitment to relentless, continuous, operational improvement and extraordinary customer service. We pride ourselves on competitive cost structure, exceptional on-time delivery, and industry-leading quality.

Pursuit Aerospace has cultivated long-term relationships with our customers around the world through respect, teamwork, technology, and trust. We are driven to develop industry leading process innovations and manufacturing techniques on behalf of our customers. Our exceptional quality is driven by a deep investment in and the daily practice of continually improving our people, processes, and products.

About the Opportunity:

As a Manufacturing Engineer III, you build on your experience and technical judgment to lead moderately complex manufacturing efforts, drive process improvements, and support production readiness across aerospace manufacturing operations. You will take ownership of projects and initiatives that improve quality, cost, and productivity, working closely with cross-functional partners to resolve manufacturing challenges. As a senior engineer, you will provide guidance and informal mentorship to less-experienced engineers, contribute to best practices and standard work, and support a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

Location:

This position is remote with 50%+ travel - including international - to provide support to the sites within the division

Responsibilities:

• Lead CNC turning and milling manufacturing efforts, providing technical direction and support for complex setups, programming strategies, and process optimization.
• Own the development, validation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing process plans, ensuring robust, repeatable, and compliant production.
• Develop, review, and optimize CNC programs to improve quality, cycle time, and cost, while supporting standardization and best practices across programs.
• Serve as a primary manufacturing engineering point of contact for customer interactions, supporting issue resolution, blueprint interpretation, and implementation of engineering changes.
• Lead tooling design, sourcing, and implementation efforts, balancing manufacturability, cost, and long-term production needs.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for complex or recurring production issues, ensuring sustainable solutions are implemented.
• Drive process improvement initiatives focused on first-pass yield, throughput, and equipment uptime, with measurable performance results.
• Evaluate, justify, and support implementation of new equipment, tooling, and manufacturing technologies to improve operational performance.
• Provide senior-level technical guidance and informal mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers, supporting skills development and engineering consistency.
• Develop and review cost estimates for products, tooling, equipment, and processes, supporting quoting, capacity planning, and business decisions.
• Ensure manufacturing documentation-including process instructions, CNC programs, SOPs, and setup sheets-is accurate, standardized, and maintained.
• Support compliance with Pursuit Aerospace quality systems, safety requirements, and regulatory standards, promoting best practices within daily operations.
• Lead Kaizen workshops
• Operate in a hands-on environment where engineers are expected to be on the shop floor 50%+ of the time supporting the operators and operations

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and at least 7 years of aerospace manufacturing engineering experience OR 10 years of aerospace manufacturing experience
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without sponsorship now or in the future. The Company cannot offer employment to visa holders who require employer sponsorship in the future or cannot work now on a full-time basis.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3 years emphasis in airfoil and single blade milling
• Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering degree is preferred.
• Experience working in an AS9100 environment
• CAD skills preferred - NX / Solid Edge
• CNC milling and turning or precision machining experience.
• Proficiency in CNC programming, tooling design, and advanced manufacturing processes.
• Proficient in PFMEA, Control Planning, and measurement system analysis (MSA)
• Ability to work with metrology equipment or inspection in process control
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles, Six Sigma Green Belt certified preferred
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate across teams and with customers.
• Proficiency in CAD software, ERP systems, and advanced Microsoft Office tools.

Working Conditions

• Must be able to have prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to frequently sit, stand and walk.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 15 pounds.
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses and safety shoes) is required on the shop floor
• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required to accommodate priorities, deadlines, and schedules.

Acknowledgements:

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefits:

• health and disability insurance
• 401(k) match
• flexible spending accounts
• EAP
• paid time off
• company-paid holidays

Pursuit Aerospace also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements, among other things.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Pursuit Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.