Manufacturing Engineer

Company Summary

Free Form Fibers is committed to using its laser-driven chemical vapor deposition technology to bring new and unique fiber materials and related products to the advanced materials industry. Free Form Fibers was founded as a result of the development of a unique process based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to create inorganic High-Performance Fibers (HPFs) and high purity powders for use in a variety of challenging applications. These applications appear in military and aerospace (turbo machinery, rockets, advanced structures), automobile, biomedical, energy and other industries that require advanced materials with exceptional strength, stiffness, heat resistance and/or chemical resistance. FFF provides these high-value raw materials to OEMs and composites fabricators.

As Free Form Fibers enters the commercialization phase, adding team members to expand the scope of operations and meet the multi-year business strategy is critical.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Production, the Controls Engineer will perform a hands-on Controls Engineering role in support of the production lifecycle of in-house-designed, specialized, production-scale equipment used in Free Form Fiber’s laser chemical vapor deposition process. Responsibilities will include supporting equipment assembly, set-up, validation, operation, changeover, maintenance, and repair, with a focus on production controls and associated low-voltage hardware, sensors, motion-control systems, and process equipment. The Controls Engineer will help maximize production uptime and effective production flow, and will provide first response to “stop the line” scenarios that may be controls-related, as well as planned and reactive maintenance.

Success in this role requires a desire to work in the high-technology space as part of a small team of experts in the field of chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Apply your history of Controls Engineering in a Production environments, combined with mentorship from the Free Form Fibers team, to quickly build competence in the Free Form Fiber’s laser chemical vapor deposition process equipment controls
• Represent the Controls Engineering function on cross-functional program teams aimed at bringing new products and associated production equipment to bear
• Partner in the Manufacturing Engineering lifecycle (validation - production - planned & reactive maintenance - continuous improvement) of in-house designed, specialized, laser driven chemical vapor deposition production controls used in the creation of inorganic High-Performance Fibers (HPFs) and high purity powders
• Partner in the first response to “stop the line” scenarios thought to be Controls related
• Represent Controls Engineering in both hasty 1-man and team structured problem solving
• Be the production champion for all Controls Engineering scope of responsibility during assembly, integration, testing and disassembly of both pressurized gas and vacuum process equipment
• Be the production champion for all Controls Engineering scope of responsibility during the installation, troubleshooting and/or replacement of vacuum pumps, valves, mass flow controllers, heaters, gas cylinders and pressure regulators
• Champion the maintenance, problem solving and continued operation and/or replacement of low voltage hardware (sensors, flow controls, data acquisition hardware)
• Champion the installation, troubleshooting and/or replacement of motion control systems (sensors, motors, motor controllers and associated wiring)
• Partner in the installation, validation and launch of all new, and revised, production equipment to meet emerging needs and eliminate the root cause of identified failures
  

What You Must Bring to This Role

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering - required
• Master of Science Degree in Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing, Controls or other related field - desired
• Demonstrated strength in Controls Engineering (PLCs & ladder logic) - required
• Demonstrated strength in Controls Engineering (C, C++ & Python emphasis on embedded systems and real-time processing) - required
• Demonstrated strength in Controls Engineering (programming microcontrollers and prototyping embedded systems) - required
• Demonstrated strength reading/utilizing schematic, and other, design documentation - required
• Demonstrated strength utilizing test equipment (DMM, oscilloscope, logic probe, etc.) - required
• Demonstrated strength in Production, Manufacturing or Advanced Manufacturing - required
• A history of learning and quickly turning those learnings into demonstrated success - required
• Demonstrated success with small teams - required
• Demonstrated strength responding to emerging problem-solving needs - required
• Demonstrated strength in the standard work/SOP document lifecycle - required
• Demonstrated strength using design software (Autodesk Fusion/ Eagle) from design concept to physical manufacturing process implementation - desired
• History of effective technical communications (written & verbal) - required
• History of success working with laser optics design/equipment - desired
• History of success utilizing electronic transducers and associated circuit design - desired
• History of success installing, utilizing & trouble shooting data acquisition systems - desired
• History of success coordinating with PCB manufacturers or assembly services - desired
• History of operating safely in a production environment including laser & hazardous gas handling - desired
  

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on experience, qualifications, and market data
• Comprehensive benefits package available to eligible full-time employees
• Paid time off and company-recognized holidays for eligible employees, as required by state/federal law
• Retirement savings program available to eligible employees
  

Working Conditions & Physical Efforts

• May require US government security clearance (may be obtained with the support of company operations)
• Work may be performed on multiple/different shifts based on machine down time
• Work is performed in a combination of office, laboratory, machine shop, and production floor environments
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time while working at a computer or participating in meetings
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while on the production floor, in laboratories, or in machine shop environments
• May be required to lift, carry, or move materials or equipment up to approximately 50 pounds on an occasional basis
• Visual functions required include near vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus when reviewing technical documents, operating computer systems, or observing production processes
• Finger dexterity is required to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, operate laboratory equipment, or utilize technical instruments
• Talking and hearing occur continuously in the process of communicating with team members, leadership, suppliers, and customers
• Occasional travel may be required to visit suppliers, customers, or partner facilities
• Work may involve exposure to typical manufacturing or laboratory conditions, including noise, equipment operation, and safety-controlled environments
  

This role is posted in partnership with HR Resolved, Inc.