Process Engineer

April Quest; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

April Quest in Seattle is seeking a senior Cure Process Engineer to own and advance composite curing, consolidation and forming at our on-site facility. You will lead tooling and process development for next-generation manufacturing capable of supporting aerospace programs.

This hands-on role grants technical autonomy, demands 7+ years experience, and requires strong PFMEA/DFMEA knowledge, as well as a track record of driving automation and continuous improvement across production lines.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in composite curing, consolidation and forming, preferably in aerospace.
• Strong knowledge of thermoset and/or thermoplastic composites.
• Experience with processes such as VBO/oven cure, crushed core, bladder molding, compression molding, trapped rubber, SMC, continuous compression molding or stamp forming.

Responsibilities

• Own and standardize composite cure, consolidation and forming processes across the site.
• Drive process optimisation, root cause analysis and manufacturing problem-solving.
• Develop and maintain process specifications, work instructions and technical documentation.
• Lead the introduction of new tooling, equipment, materials and manufacturing technologies.
• Support PFMEA/DFMEA, process risk management and continuous improvement activities.
• Work closely with design and engineering teams on DFM and industrialization of new products.
• Help transition manual manufacturing processes toward greater automation.
• Act as the technical authority for cure and forming processes across the facility.

Skills

Composite curing

Consolidation

Forming

Root cause analysis

PFMEA/DFMEA

Manufacturing risk

Lean / Kaizen

Automation

Job description

Cure Process Engineer | Advanced Composites

Seattle, WA | On-site

We’re recruiting for an experienced Cure Process Engineer to join a growing advanced composites manufacturer in the Seattle area.

The business designs and manufactures complex composite structures for the aerospace and defense sectors and is undergoing an exciting period of transformation. With significant investment moving into drones and autonomous systems, defense technology and next-generation composite manufacturing, this is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping future manufacturing capability.

You’ll become the site Subject Matter Expert for composite curing, consolidation and forming, taking technical ownership of existing processes while helping develop and industrialize the next generation of composite manufacturing technologies.

What you’ll be doing:

• Own and standardize composite cure, consolidation and forming processes across the site
• Drive process optimisation, root cause analysis and manufacturing problem-solving
• Develop and maintain process specifications, work instructions and technical documentation
• Lead the introduction of new tooling, equipment, materials and manufacturing technologies
• Support PFMEA/DFMEA, process risk management and continuous improvement activities
• Work closely with design and engineering teams on DFM and industrialization of new products
• Help transition manual manufacturing processes toward greater automation
• Act as the technical authority for cure and forming processes across the facility

What we’re looking for:

• 7+ years’ experience in composite curing, consolidation and forming, ideally within aerospace
• Strong knowledge of thermoset and/or thermoplastic composites
• Experience with processes such as VBO/oven cure, crushed core, bladder molding, compression molding, trapped rubber, SMC, continuous compression molding or stamp forming
• Experience acting as a manufacturing SME or taking technical ownership of composite processes
• Strong knowledge of root cause analysis, PFMEA/DFMEA and manufacturing risk management
• Experience introducing new processes, tooling, equipment or materials into productionExposure to Lean, Kaizen, automation and continuous improvement environments

Aerospace experience is highly desirable, although engineers from other advanced composites or high-performance manufacturing environments with directly transferable expertise are also encouraged to apply.

This is a senior, hands-on engineering position with genuine technical autonomy. Decisions are made quickly, the engineering team has real influence, and there is significant investment in people, technology and new manufacturing capability.