Aerospace Technician (Contract)

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage the end‑to‑end effort for the development and deployment of new aerospace production processes and equipment in accordance with aviation regulatory and customer requirements (e.g., FAA/EASA, AS9100, NADCAP).
• Develop planning, programming, and production flow for precision metal aircraft and engine components (e.g., structural parts, landing gear, engine hardware, brackets).
• Validate CNC programs for aerospace parts in an offline virtual environment, ensuring correct geometry, toolpaths, and collision‑free machining for complex 5‑axis operations.
• Identify, design, and implement tooling and fixturing solutions for aircraft components, ensuring repeatability, rigidity, and compliance with aviation quality standards.
• Create, maintain, and control process documentation (routers, operation sheets, setup instructions, work instructions) to meet aerospace configuration control and traceability requirements.
• Collaborate with Quality Engineers to develop gauging, inspection plans, and process control systems (SPC, FAI, control plans) aligned with AS9102 and other aerospace quality standards.
• Troubleshoot and drive continuous improvement of aviation production processes, focusing on capability, yield, cost, on‑time delivery, and special process compliance (e.g., heat treatment, surface treatment).
• Develop and support paperless shop‑floor documentation systems for aerospace manufacturing (e.g., digital work instructions, DNC, e‑signatures, electronic traceability).
• Assist production in the prove‑out, first article machining, and debugging of new aerospace machining processes, supporting FAI and customer approvals.
• Follow prescribed work rules, aviation safety standards, and EHS requirements in a high‑reliability manufacturing environment.
• Take ownership of project goals and milestones to ensure successful introduction of new aerospace products and processes into production.

Job Requirements:

• Degree in an Engineering discipline (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or Aerospace preferred).
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in precision machining or manufacturing, ideally within the aerospace/aviation industry.
• Strong knowledge of CNC machines and tools (3‑, 4‑, and 5‑axis machining centers, turning centers), including their design, capabilities, and applications for aviation components.
• Proficient in ANSI Y14.5 / GD&T, blueprint reading of aerospace drawings, and CNC programming using G‑Codes, M‑Codes, and CAD/CAM systems for complex contoured and tight‑tolerance parts.
• Knowledge of aerospace‑grade tooling and fixturing concepts and standards, including high‑precision, high‑rigidity solutions for thin‑wall and hard‑to‑machine alloys (e.g., titanium, Inconel, aluminum).
• Demonstrated high level of attention to detail, suitable for flight‑critical and safety‑critical components.
• Proven ability to develop and manage manufacturing projects from concept and process design through industrialization, FAI, and full‑rate production.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic aviation production environment (e.g., customer changes, rate ramps, new aircraft programs).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to quickly resolve manufacturing and quality issues affecting aerospace hardware.
• Experience with metrology standards and equipment (CMM, laser trackers, surface finish testers, air gauges), including support for FAI and periodic inspection per aerospace requirements.