Manufacturing Lead Engineer - Additive

Eaton Corporation; North Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 97,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Corporation in North Charleston, SC, is seeking a Manufacturing Lead Engineer - Additive to spearhead quality and inspection for metal AM programs in our Charleston center. You will partner with design, quality, and suppliers to ensure robust inspection methods and process controls for aerospace components.

You will lead manufacturing and inspection strategy development on the floor, applying GD&T and data-driven problem solving, with emphasis on DFx and deregulatory compliance to support

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or Materials Science from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years experience leading component manufacturing quality and inspection development with customers and design engineers.
• US citizens only due to ITAR and security requirements; no immigration sponsorship.
• Position requires no CPT/OPT/STEM-OPT sponsorship currently or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, GD&T, datuming, and inspection planning.
• Develop manufacturing, inspection, fixturing, gaging, heat treatment, and deburring strategies.
• Drive DFM/DFI initiatives with teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Create APQP deliverables: PFMEAs, Control Plans, MSAs, and capability studies.
• Design and implement procedures, work instructions, and process controls.
• Develop new manufacturing and post‑processing methods for AM applications.
• Lead MRB disposition and corrective actions for nonconforming product.
• Analyze data with statistics to monitor process capability and drive improvements.
• Lead audits and support customer and regulatory audits (AS9100).

Skills

GD&T

Datuming

Inspection strategy

Process development

3D CAD modeling

Minitab

MS Office

Education

B.S. in Engineering or Materials Science

Tools

3D CAD software

Job description

Eaton’s AER HQ Headquarters division is currently seeking a Manufacturing Lead Engineer - Additive.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $97000 - $143000 a year. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

• This role requires working on-site M-F at our N.Charleston, SC Facility. Relocation is not available for this role.

What you’ll do:

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is transforming the aerospace industry, enabling innovative designs, improved performance, reduced lead times, and new opportunities for growth. Eaton Aerospace has been at the forefront of adopting and industrializing metal additive manufacturing technologies, delivering flight‑critical hardware and driving significant expansion across our aerospace portfolio.

As our additive manufacturing business continues to grow, we are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to join our Digital Design and Additive Manufacturing Center in Charleston, South Carolina. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in advancing aerospace manufacturing technologies while working on cutting‑edge metal additive manufacturing programs for flight hardware applications.

In this role, you will serve as a technical leader in manufacturing quality and inspection development, partnering closely with customers, design engineers, quality professionals, and additive manufacturing process specialists to establish robust inspection methods and manufacturing controls for complex aerospace components. You will help define and validate inspection strategies, develop standards and best practices, and ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet demanding customer and regulatory requirements.

Job Responsibilities:

• Review engineering drawings, specifications, and product requirements with strong application of GD&T, datuming, and inspection planning.
• Develop robust manufacturing, inspection, fixturing, gaging, heat treatment, surface finishing, and deburring strategies.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Inspection (DFI) initiatives with engineering teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Create and maintain APQP deliverables including Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, Control Plans, FAIRs, MSAs, and capability studies.
• Design and implement manufacturing procedures, work instructions, inspection methods, and process controls.
• Develop and validate new manufacturing, inspection, and post‑processing methods for additive manufacturing applications.
• Apply broad inspection methodologies including manual metrology, gauges, CMM, 3D scanning, and other conventional measurement techniques.
• Utilize 3D CAD modeling to develop manufacturing aids, fixtures, gauges, and tooling solutions.
• Lead MRB activities and provide technical disposition support for nonconforming product.
• Conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective actions for internal, customer, and supplier quality issues.
• Partner with suppliers and Supplier Quality teams to improve process capability, quality performance, and compliance.
• Lead internal audits and support customer, regulatory, and certification audits, including AS9100 requirements.
• Analyze manufacturing and quality data using statistical tools to monitor process capability and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead initiatives focused on yield improvement, dimensional conformance, inspection efficiency, cost reduction, and process robustness.
• Support MES and digital manufacturing initiatives to improve process control and production visibility.
• Serve as a hands‑on technical resource for additive manufacturing equipment, inspection systems, and post‑processing operations.
• Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor identifying opportunities, troubleshooting issues, and improving processes.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, research organizations, universities, and government‑funded programs to advance additive manufacturing technologies.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, ownership, critical thinking and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or Material Science from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years experience leading component manufacturing quality and inspection development, partnering closely with customers, design engineers, quality professionals, and/or additive manufacturing process specialists to establish robust inspection methods and manufacturing controls.
• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1 to H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, I-485 job portability, etc.”
• This position requires use of information or access to hardware which is subject to the “advanced high- priority level” International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. Citizens for this role due to Military Defense sensitivity and exposure.
• Candidate will not need sponsorship now or in future.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with statistical analysis to define trends and summarize material property results and process performance/health (familiar with Minitab or equivalent statistical analysis software).

Additional Preferred Qualifications / Traits

• Expert knowledge of GD&T, datuming schemes, and inspection strategy development.
• Strong product manufacturing and process development experience.
• Experience designing manufacturing and inspection tooling, fixtures, gauges, and specialty equipment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of dimensional inspection and metrology techniques.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling.
• Hands‑on approach with manufacturing equipment and shop‑floor problem solving.
• Strong critical thinking and structured problem‑solving skills.

Positive, action‑oriented mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.

Skills:

• Expertise with aluminum & titanium AM material systems is preferred.
• Problem‑solving methodologies and risk assessment tools (e.g., Six Sigma, 8D, RCCA, PFMEA)
• Proficient in the use of MS Office
• Familiar/experienced with the use of Minitab, FEA software.

All positions may require participation in video and in‑person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job‑related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability‑related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.