Plating Manufacturing Engineer

BAE Systems, Inc.; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 88,189 - 149,922; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) Savings plan

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

BAE Systems, Inc. in Louisville, KY is seeking a Plating Manufacturing Engineer to support plating operations and production of naval gun components. The role involves process reliability leadership and collaboration across cross‑functional teams in a manufacturing environment.

A 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off applies. Required is a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least four years of hands‑on experience, including lab/manufacturing engineering work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field.
• Four years of experience, including at least three years hands‑on in lab or manufacturing engineering.
• Thorough understanding of plating processes and materials selection.
• Ability to identify color changes in indicators for end‑point determination in titrations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, sustain, and support plating manufacturing processes and activities.
• Provide technical leadership to technicians and engineers to ensure process reliability.
• Create and maintain process specifications, routings, and work instructions.
• Manage plating tanks and baths in compliance with safety and regulations.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, yield, and cost reduction.

Skills

Plating expertise

Process improvement

Communication

Microsoft Office

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry / Chemical Engineering / Materials Science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

BAE Systems is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Plating Manufacturing Engineer to join our dynamic team in Louisville, helping shape the future of defense technology.

As a Plating Manufacturing Engineer, you will support plating operations and production of highly technical naval gun components while enjoying a 9/80 schedule, which includes every other Friday off.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, sustain, and support day‑to‑day plating manufacturing processes, programs, and activities in the Plate Shop, including techniques such as electroplating, electroless plating, and anodizing different material types.
• Ensure process reliability by providing technical leadership and support to bargaining unit plate technicians, operations supervisors, and other engineers.
• Create and maintain process specifications, manufacturing routings, work instructions, and supporting documentation.
• Create, maintain, and optimize chemical tanks and plating baths in compliance with internal safety standards and external regulations; adhere to all safety policies and promote a culture of safety among manufacturing employees.
• Perform and lead laboratory testing to analyze cleaning, coating, and plating baths and ensure the quality thereof.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for plating processes focused on quality, yield, cost reduction, and process robustness; conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in the design, development, and optimization of precision plating processes, including equipment selection, tooling, fixtures, and process parameters.
• Estimate cycle times, labor requirements, and process costs for Basis of Estimate (BOE) proposals; implement procedures for transitioning new products in the manufacturing line.
• Lead and participate in cross‑functional projects, serving as the plating subject‑matter expert. The role requires regular presence in a manufacturing or fabrication environment, with physical requirements such as climbing, kneeling, stooping, working in confined spaces, and compliance with personal protective equipment use.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a closely related field.
• Four years of experience, including at least three years of hands‑on experience working in a laboratory or manufacturing engineering role.
• Thorough understanding of the chemical and physical principles underlying plating processes, enabling appropriate selection of materials and methods tailored to specific applications.
• Ability to identify color changes in chemical indicators for proper end‑point determination in volumetric titrations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• BAE Systems may consider candidates with fewer years of experience for a more junior position or additional years of plating experience for a more senior role.

Preferred Education, Experience & Skills

• Experience with plating processes including manganese phosphate, chromate conversion coating, aluminum anodizing, tin plating, black oxide, zinc plating, hard chrome plating, or brush plate.
• Experience with metal finishing processes and working knowledge of different metal alloys and how the cleaning and plating/coating processes affect them.
• Experience in a lab setting performing analysis on cleaning, coating, and plating baths.
• Experience in precision manufacturing or high‑reliability components.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and specifications.
• Project management experience, including leading cross‑functional initiatives.
• Experience with wastewater treatment and environmental compliance in metal finishing operations.
• Ability to use critical thinking to resolve issues, conduct root cause analysis, and make recommendations for process improvements.

Pay, Benefits & Schedule

Full‑time salary range: $88,189 – $149,922.

Employee benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; life and accident insurance; an employee assistance program; a legal plan; and additional perks such as discounts on home, auto, and pet insurance.

Paid time off, paid holidays, and additional leave types such as parental, military, bereavement, and applicable federal and state sick leave are available. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non‑monetary awards.

Work schedule: 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.