Composites Manufacturing Engineer

HEICO • Hood River, OR • 1h ago

Job Description

Role Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer reports directly to the Engineering Manager and serves as the critical link between Engineering and Production teams. This role is responsible for translating customer requirements into manufacturable designs, developing the tooling and processes needed to produce high-complexity composite parts, and driving continuous improvement across the shop floor. This role also supports quality engineering functions such as doing dimensional inspection using CMM machines, creating inspection plans, interpreting GD&T, and doing root cause and corrective action activities.

Duties & Responsibilities

Work directly with customers and engineering teams to understand product requirements and translate them into practical manufacturing specifications

Design molds, trim fixtures, and assembly tooling for high-complexity composite part production

Create and maintain engineering drawings, work instructions, and process documentation to support shop floor execution

Evaluate production readiness for new products and support the introduction of new parts into the manufacturing workflow

Develop, document, and continuously improve lamination and machining processes in collaboration with production staff

Identify and resolve recurring manufacturing issues through structured root cause analysis and corrective action

Train and support production personnel on process requirements, drawing interpretation, and quality standards

Perform incoming customer drawing reviews and advise on appropriate tolerances and DFM best practices.

Develop and refine inspection methods, fixturing, and documentation to support part acceptance and quality verification

Evaluate new technologies, materials, and methods that could improve manufacturing capability or product quality

Support First Article Inspection processes and other quality engineering responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned

Skills & Knowledge

Solid understanding of composite manufacturing processes, materials, and tooling

Proficiency in CAD/solid modeling for tooling and fixture design (SolidWorks preferred)

Ability to produce clear engineering drawings with proper GD&T callouts per ASME Y14.5 or equivalent

Strong working knowledge of GD&T and its practical application in a manufacturing environment

Experience writing work instructions, process documentation, and manufacturing procedures

Familiarity with root cause analysis and corrective action processes

Foundational knowledge of AS9100 and First Article Inspection; deeper expertise can be developed on the job

Hands-on, solutions-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail

Effective communicator with the ability to work across engineering, production, and customer-facing @contexts

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field

3+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role, preferably in composites or aerospace

3+ years of CAD/solid modeling experience (SolidWorks preferred)

Strong understanding of GD&T; advanced on-the-job training available

Familiarity with composite materials, processes, and aerospace product requirements

Exposure to AS9100 environments preferred but not required

Self-starter with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who works well independently and within a team

Eligible candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawfully admitted permanent resident, or otherwise eligible U.S. person

Requirements