Staff Mechanical Engineer - Engine Assembly (On-site Engineering Lead)

GE Aerospace; North Carolina; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

GE Aerospace in Durham, NC is seeking an on-site engineering authority for assembly operations. You will bridge design, shop floor, and suppliers to resolve issues, redesign parts for producibility, and drive root-cause analysis across projects.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering and at least 5 years of design/processing experience, including GD&T proficiency and MRB experience. You will mentor engineers and lead cross-functional initiatives on the floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 5 years design and/or process engineering experience.
• Deep working knowledge of GD&T.
• Mechanical assembly design experience in high-precision/high-consequence industries.
• Manufacturing or production support experience on a shop floor.
• MRB or nonconforming-material disposition experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site engineering authority for assembly - the bridge between the design organization, the shop, and suppliers.
• Resolve nonconforming hardware in real time through MRB decisions that keep engines moving without compromising airworthiness.
• Redesign parts, tolerances, and processes for producibility - you’ll have the standing to challenge a drawing.
• Drive root cause on quality escapes and process capability gaps, then close them permanently.
• Lead technically complex projects across engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing with limited oversight.
• Mentor earlier-career engineers and act as the technical reference point on the floor.

Skills

Design engineering

Problem solving

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Unigraphics

Ansys

Job description

Job Description Summary

Most design engineers never see the engine they designed get built. This one is embedded on the assembly floor.

You’ll be the engineering voice inside the Durham Engine Facility, one of GE Aerospace’s flagship commercial engine assembly operations. When a build hits a fit problem, when a supplier part doesn’t behave the way the drawing promised, when a process is technically compliant but practically unbuildable - you’re the person who owns the answer, and you have the authority to change the design or the process to fix it for good.

This is a hands-on job for someone who wants their engineering judgment to show up in hardware within weeks, not program cycles.

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site engineering authority for assembly - the bridge between the design organization, the shop, and suppliers.
• Resolve nonconforming hardware in real time through Material Review Board decisions that keep engines moving without compromising airworthiness.
• Redesign parts, tolerances, and processes for producibility - you’ll have the standing to challenge a drawing, not just interpret it.
• Drive root cause on quality escapes and process capability gaps, then close them permanently.
• Lead technically complex projects across engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing with limited oversight.
• Mentor earlier-career engineers and act as the technical reference point on the floor.

What you can expect during your first 12 months:

• Months 1-3: Learn the assembly line and the product hands-on; own MRB dispositions with support.
• Months 3-6: Take independent ownership of a product area or assembly cell; deliver your first producibility improvement.
• Months 6-12: Lead a cross-functional project that measurably improves quality, cycle time, or delivery - and become the engineer the floor calls first.

How you will work in this role:

• Self-starter who moves toward the messy problem instead of waiting for it to be assigned.
• Comfortable challenging entrenched process with evidence.
• Strong communicator who can hold a technical position with a design engineer and translate it for an assembler in the same hour.
• Genuinely enjoys mentoring.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an accredited college or university
• Minimum of 5 years design and/or process engineering experience

Desired Characteristics

• Deep working knowledge of GD&T - you can win a tolerance-stack argument.
• Mechanical assembly design experience (aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, or another high-precision, high-consequence industry).
• Manufacturing or production support experience - you’ve been on a floor, not just in a CAD seat.
• Siemens NX (Unigraphics) and Ansys.
• Material Review Board (MRB) or nonconforming-material disposition experience
• Master’s degree.

Additional Information

GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness.

GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a "Sponsor"). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor's welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer . Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

GE Aerospace will only employ those who a