Manufacturing Engineer

The role

You will design and machine the tooling that brings composite aircraft to life. You will own the process from CAD design through CAM programming to running parts on mills and routers.

What you will do

• Design and deliver tooling, jigs, and fixtures for aircraft assembly and fabrication processes
• Program and machine custom tooling components using CAM software and CNC equipment
• Rapidly prototype manufacturing solutions to support evolving aircraft designs and assembly sequences
• Conduct first article inspections and dimensional validation of tooling to ensure design intent is met
• Collaborate with design engineers to provide DFM feedback and influence part designs for improved manufacturability
• Develop and document assembly procedures, work instructions, and tooling usage guidelines
• Troubleshoot and iterate on tooling designs based on real-world assembly feedback from the production floor
• Maintain and improve existing tooling as aircraft designs evolve through development cycles

Required qualifications

• Proficiency in CAD software (Fusion, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for designing tooling, fixtures, and jigs
• Hands-on CAM programming experience and ability to machine own parts on vertical mills and multi-axis CNC equipment
• Strong understanding of GD&T and ability to apply proper tolerancing to tooling designs
• Knowledge of composite materials and their unique tooling requirements (layup surfaces, cure tooling, trim fixtures)
• Experience with metrology equipment (calipers, micrometers, height gauges) and inspection techniques
• Understanding of design for manufacturing principles and common composite manufacturing processes (layup, bonding, trimming, drilling)
• Self-directed problem solver comfortable working independently while supporting a small, fast-moving team
• Ability to balance speed with precision

Nice to have

• Experience with Fusion 360 for integrated CAD/CAM workflow
• Hands-on experience with Kitamura machines
• Gantry-style CNC router programming and operation
• Multi-axis (4th/5th axis) CAM programming experience
• Hands-on composite layup or composite trimming experience
• Welding experience for fixture fabrication
• Experience with FDM for rapid tooling prototypes

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful early-stage equity
• Relocation support if applicable
• Employee Health Benefit Plans
• 6% Retirement matching
• Flexible PTO
• Free lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our offices
• AI tools and subscriptions

About the company

Poseidon Aerospace builds and operates full-size autonomous cargo aircraft. They are headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations in Washington DC, Oregon, and Maine.