Process Engineer

PandoLogic; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

PandoLogic is seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to own aerospace electroplating and related finishing processes in Sun Valley, CA. You will work on process definitions, parameter control, and documentation for high-precision components.

Responsibilities include developing technique sheets, translating drawings into production steps, and leading root-cause investigations to improve yield and reliability. On-site work with a focus on quality, traceability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of direct process engineering experience in aerospace electroplating.
• Hands-on knowledge of hard chrome plating in an aerospace/controlled environment.
• Ability to interpret aerospace drawings, specifications and purchase-order requirements.
• Experience with bath chemistry, temperature control, current density and filtration.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical ownership and continuous improvement for aerospace electroplating processes.
• Develop, validate and maintain technique sheets, master routings, process plans and work instructions.
• Translate customer drawings, PO requirements and aerospace specs into production requirements and records.
• Lead root-cause investigations on adhesion, thickness variation, burning, pits, and porosity.
• Train technicians and inspectors on process requirements and fundamentals.
• Support Nadcap audits and AS9100 documentation and improvement actions.

Skills

Process engineering

Aerospace electroplating

Technical ownership

Root-cause analysis

Technical writing

Job description

We are seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to take technical ownership of aerospace electroplating and metal-finishing processes. This is a high-impact opportunity for an engineer or experienced plating process specialist who understands what happens at the tank, on the production floor and within a controlled aerospace process plan. Asuccessful candidate will be comfortable working with drawings and specifications, investigating problems on the production floor and converting technical requirements into practical, controlled instructions.

• Provide technical ownership and continuous improvement for hard chrome plating and related aerospace electroplating processes.
• Support cadmium plating, electroless nickel, masking, chemical conversion coating, passivation, Nital Etch, cleaning, activation, stripping, baking and surface preparation.
• Develop, validate and maintain technique sheets, master routings, process plans and work instructions for new and existing aerospace components.
• Translate customer drawings, purchase orders and aerospace specifications into clear production requirements, including process sequence, specification revision, critical parameters, masking boundaries, tooling, inspection points and required records.
• Engineer plating methods for precision-machined components involving dimensional buildup, plating allowance, inside and outside diameters, runout, edge effects, current density and post-plating machining or grinding.
• Develop and improve racks, fixtures, plugs, masking methods, auxiliary anodes, shields and other tooling required for consistent results.
• Establish and control critical parameters such as bath chemistry, temperature, amperage, voltage, current density, plating time, agitation, filtration and solution movement.
• Lead root-cause investigations involving adhesion failure, thickness variation, burning, pitting, nodules, roughness, porosity, corrosion failure and hydrogen-embrittlement risk.
• Partner with laboratory and chemical-control personnel on bath analysis, additions, contamination control, tank maintenance and corrective action.
• Support Nadcap Chemical Processing audits, corrective actions and objective evidence while contributing to AS9100 implementation and disciplined document control.
• Support new-product introduction, first-article readiness, process validation and customer or original equipment manufacturer technical reviews.
• Train plating technicians, maskers, supervisors, planners and inspectors on process requirements and technical fundamentals.
• Improve first-pass yield, process capability, cycle time, repeatability and reduction of rework and scrap.
• Three or more years of direct process engineering, technical process ownership or advanced manufacturing experience involving aerospace electroplating or chemical processing.
• Hands-on technical knowledge of hard chrome plating in an aerospace, aviation, defense or similarly controlled precision-manufacturing environment.
• Experience processing precision-machined components where plating thickness, dimensional tolerance, masking boundaries and post-processing are critical.
• Ability to interpret aerospace drawings, specifications, purchase-order requirements and process standards.
• Working knowledge of plating chemistry, electrochemistry, current density, rectification, anode and cathode relationships, bath control, filtration and process troubleshooting.
• Experience developing or maintaining technique sheets, routings, work instructions, process plans or other controlled manufacturing documentation.
• Demonstrated root-cause analysis, corrective-action and technical-writing ability.
• Ability to work full-time and on-site in Sun Valley, California.

Equivalent hands-on aerospace plating experience will be considered. A specific degree is not required when the candidate can demonstrate the technical depth needed to own these processes.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Take meaningful technical ownership rather than serving only in a support capacity.
• Work directly with specialized aerospace processes and precision components.
• Replace tribal knowledge with lasting, controlled engineering methods.
• Influence process capability, quality, delivery and equipment improvements.
• Join an established Southern California aerospace-processing operation with an immediate need for your expertise.

Qualified candidates will be contacted promptly for a confidential initial conversation.

The employer provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.