Technical Sales Engineer – Composites Manufacturing

Layup; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Layup Parts is a technology-first manufacturing startup focused on high-quality composite tooling and parts for aerospace, defense, and motorsports. We seek a highly technical engineer to bridge customer requirements with manufacturing execution, evaluating RFQs, providing DFM feedback, and developing estimates and lead times.

You will design high-level tooling concepts, collaborate with customers and internal teams, and help scale estimating systems and software tools as Layup grows.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, or motorsport industries.
• Strong understanding of composite part manufacturing processes and tooling methodologies.
• Excellent written, verbal, and group communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating with customers and external stakeholders.
• Capable of thoroughly documenting your work for others to understand.
• Excellent time management and multitasking skills; urgency in handling tasks.
• Experience in startups or small teams in fast-paced environments with little structure.
• Prior experience as an estimator in manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with standard aerospace quality requirements and AS9100 basics.
• Able to translate contract requirements into cost adjustments during quoting.
• Excited by multi-facility and multi-state growth prospects.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate incoming RFQs for composite parts and tooling.
• Perform high-level DFM reviews and provide manufacturability feedback early in quoting.
• Review customer documentation for accurate quotations.
• Develop project estimates including materials, tooling, labor, methods,Quality requirements, and lead times.
• Create high-level tooling designs for cost and lead time estimates.
• Collaborate with customers to iterate on requirements, timelines, and scope.
• Create project handover documents with designs and assumptions for manufacturing handoff.
• Partner with manufacturing, operations, quality, and engineering for smooth handoffs.
• Help develop scalable estimating systems, costing frameworks, and internal software tools.
• Work with software team to implement estimating rules into internal tools.
• Position may require extended hours or weekend work.

Skills

Composites manufacturing

DFM reviews

Customer communication

Estimator experience

AS9100 basics

Documentation

Startup environment

Quality manuals review

Job description

Overview

At Layup Parts, our mission is simple: deliver high-quality composite parts faster. We’re a technology-first manufacturing startup that’s revolutionizing how composite tooling and parts are made for the aerospace, defense, and motorsports industries. Our customers are developing tomorrow's high-tech products, and we are building technology to accelerate their success.

We’re looking for a highly technical, customer-oriented engineer to help bridge the gap between customer requirements and manufacturing execution. This role sits at the intersection of composites engineering, manufacturing, customer engagement, and commercial operations. You’ll work directly with leadership, customers, manufacturing, and software teams to evaluate incoming projects, develop technical proposals and estimates, provide DFM feedback, and help scale the systems that power our quoting and manufacturing workflows.

This is an ideal role for someone with deep composites manufacturing knowledge who enjoys both technical problem-solving and customer interaction in a fast-moving startup environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate incoming RFQs for composite parts and tooling
• Perform high-level DFM reviews and provide customers with manufacturability feedback early in the quoting process
• Review all customer provided documentation (including quality manuals and other contract requirements) for the purpose of providing an accurate quotation
• Develop project estimates including materials, tooling, labor, manufacturing methods, quality requirements, and lead times
• Create high-level tooling designs for the purpose of providing a cost and lead time estimate
• Collaborate with customers to iterate on technical requirements, timelines, and scope
• Create project handover documents for accepted quotes. Provide all high-level designs, estimating assumptions, contract requirements, and other notable required for a clean handoff to manufacturing team for project execution
• Partner closely with manufacturing, operations, quality, and engineering teams to ensure smooth project handoff
• Help develop scalable estimating systems, costing frameworks, and internal software tools as Layup grows
• Work with Layup Parts' software team to provide estimating rules that are integrated into company-made software
• Position may require extended hours or weekend work
• Be awesome! Be the person you want to work with.

Key Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, or motorsport industries
• Strong understanding of composite part manufacturing processes and tooling methodologies
• Excellent written, verbal, and group communication skills
• Comfortable communicating with customers and external stakeholders
• Capable of thoroughly documenting your work for others to understand
• Excellent time management and multitasking skills; addresses all work with sense of urgency
• Experience in startups or small teams in fast-paced and quickly changing environments that have little to no established systems or structure
• Prior experience as an estimator in manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with standard aerospace quality requirements along with AS9100 basics
• Comfortable reviewing quality manuals and other contract documents; able to translate requirements into cost adjustments while quoting
• Excited by the prospect of 2x or 3x sales growth, with the multi-facility and multi-state growth

Equal Opportunity

Layup is an equal-opportunityemployer. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair ChanceInitiativefor Hiring Ordinance.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green cardholder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR.