Advanced Manufacturing Engineer
Location: Rockford, IL
Travel: 40-60% (Domestic & International)
Salary: Competitive + Full Benefits
Are you passionate about advanced manufacturing and composite materials? Do you enjoy solving complex technical challenges and working directly with customers to transform ideas into innovative solutions? Join our team as a Advanced Manufacturing Engineer and play a critical role in developing and optimizing cutting-edge composite manufacturing technologies for aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, and beyond.
About the Role
As an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, you will bridge the gap between engineering, manufacturing, and customer support. You'll be responsible for developing machining and processing strategies, validating manufacturing processes, and providing technical expertise throughout the project lifecycle. You'll collaborate cross-functionally to deliver tailored solutions that set the standard for performance and reliability in composite manufacturing.
Key Responsibilities
Evaluate customer manufacturing requirements and develop engineered machining and processing solutions for advanced composites.
Design strategies for composite trimming, drilling, routing, milling, and finishing applications, recommending appropriate tooling, fixturing, and process optimization techniques.
Support machine acceptance testing and conduct customer demonstrations to ensure solutions meet technical and business needs.
Develop and validate machining processes for materials such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, honeycomb structures, and both thermoset and thermoplastic composites.
Optimize manufacturing parameters for tool life, part quality, dimensional accuracy, and repeatability.
Troubleshoot machining and process-related challenges, ensuring prompt and effective resolutions.
Provide hands-on technical support during machine installation and commissioning, and conduct operator and engineer training for customers.
Develop and validate CNC programs, ensuring machine performance and process capability through factory and site acceptance tests.
Collaborate with mechanical, controls, and manufacturing engineering teams, as well as field service, project management, and sales.
Deliver process documentation, bills of materials, and support configuration management and change control procedures.
Travel domestically and internationally (40-60%) to support project requirements and customer success.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum 5 years of experience in composite manufacturing or CNC machining applications.
Demonstrated expertise machining or processing composite materials.
Strong grasp of CNC machining principles, process troubleshooting, and manufacturing best practices.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings and apply GD&T methodologies.
Proficient in SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software; familiarity with PDM systems preferred.
Excellent communication and customer-facing skills, with a passion for working hands-on and collaboratively.
Willing to travel up to 60%, domestically and internationally.
Why Join Us?
Tackle cutting-edge technical challenges in advanced composite manufacturing.
Work alongside passionate, talented engineering and technical teams.
Contribute directly to projects across multiple high-tech industries.
Enjoy a competitive salary with bonus potential and a comprehensive benefits package.
Be part of an agile, growth-oriented organization committed to innovation and excellence.
Ready to advance your career and make an impact in the world of composite manufacturing?
Apply today and join us in redefining what's possible!
As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job @type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here (https://www.mykelly.com/help-support-working-with-kelly-us/#Benefits) for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.
Why Kelly ® Engineering?
Your engineering skills are in demand, but how do you find the right fit? Easy. At Kelly Engineering, our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. We connect you with leading organizations where you can collaborate on innovative projects, work with cutting-edge technologies and accelerate your growth. Whether you prefer the variety and flexibility of short-term projects or are looking for a long-term opportunity, we're here to guide you to the next step in your engineering career.
About Kelly
Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life-just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.
Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .
Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.
