Senior Composite Process Engineer - NPI & Lean Improvement

Socket.dev; White Salmon (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Aerospace & Defense is seeking a Composite Process Engineer to bridge design and production. You will develop and optimize composite manufacturing methods, tooling, and processes, supporting NPI and production readiness while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidates bring 8+ years in composite manufacturing or process engineering, DFMs, and hands-on problem solving in aerospace/defense settings. Strong communication and data analysis skills are required.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in composite manufacturing or process engineering.
• Strong knowledge of composite materials, tooling, fabrication, and DFM.
• Experience in aerospace/defense or high-reliability environments.
• Proficiency with MS Office and manufacturing documentation systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead composite product and process development from concept through full production lifecycle.
• Develop, evaluate, validate, and improve composite manufacturing methods, tooling, fixtures, and production systems.
• Support NPI activities including process implementation and production readiness.
• Design, fabricate, and implement tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing equipment solutions.
• Create and maintain process documentation, work instructions, tooling records, and procedures.
• Perform engineering analyses to validate designs and processes.
• Develop testing protocols and present results for R&D and validation.
• Drive continuous improvement with root-cause analysis and waste reduction.

Skills

Composite manufacturing

Process engineering

Lean manufacturing

Data analysis

Communication

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

Applied Aerospace & Defense is seeking a Composite Process Engineer to bridge design and production. You will develop and optimize composite manufacturing methods, tooling, and processes, supporting NPI and production readiness while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidates bring 8+ years in composite manufacturing or process engineering, DFMs, and hands-on problem solving in aerospace/defense settings. Strong communication and data analysis skills are required.