Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Precision Machining

Help Us Build the Next Generation of Manufacturing

Reata Engineering & Machine Works isn't looking for someone to sit behind a desk and maintain processes that have existed for 20 years. We're looking for someone who knows precision machining, understands what great manufacturing looks like, and still believes there is always a better way to do it.

Reata is a growing precision manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, medical and other demanding industries. Our shop includes advanced multi-axis CNC equipment, including Mazak Integrex mill-turns, Variaxis 5-axis machining centers, horizontal machining centers with Palletech automation, turning centers and Swiss machining.

The work is complex. The tolerances are tight. The parts change constantly. That's exactly why we need you.

Why This Role Exists

We have talented young engineers who are hungry to learn, along with experienced people working on automation, systems and the future of our manufacturing operation. What we're missing is another experienced manufacturing engineer who can bridge the two. Someone who has been around precision machining long enough to recognize a good process—and a bad one. Someone who can look at a new part and ask:

• What's the right machine for this?
• How should we fixture it?
• Can we reduce the number of operations?
• What should we machine versus inspect in-process?
• How do we make the second run better than the first?
• How do we turn what we learned into a repeatable process?

And, just as importantly, someone who can explain why. You'll work alongside and mentor developing engineers while still being deeply involved in solving real manufacturing problems yourself.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll help take complex parts from print and model through a manufacturing process that works on the shop floor.

That includes developing and improving machining processes for prototype and production work; determining machine selection, operation sequence, tooling, workholding and inspection strategy; working closely with CNC programmers, machinists, Quality and Production; troubleshooting difficult machining and process problems; supporting new-product introduction and first-article production; improving setup time, cycle time, tool life, process capability and overall repeatability; and helping turn successful processes into standards that the rest of the organization can build upon. You'll also have an important role in developing our engineering team.

We don't want someone who simply gives younger engineers the answer. We want someone who teaches them how to think through the problem themselves.

The Manufacturing Environment

This is a high-mix precision machining environment—not a traditional high-volume production line. You'll be working around equipment and processes that include:

• 3-, 4- and 5-axis CNC machining
• Mazak Integrex mill-turn technology
• Horizontal machining and pallet automation
• CNC turning
• Swiss machining
• Complex workholding and fixturing
• Tight-tolerance aerospace and medical components
• First Article Inspection and AS9102 requirements
• AS9100 manufacturing systems

Experience with every machine or process isn't necessary. A strong understanding of precision CNC machining is.

We're Looking for Someone Who...

Has meaningful experience developing machining processes in a precision manufacturing environment.

Understands CNC machining well enough to have credible technical conversations with experienced machinists and programmers. Can look at a print, model and manufacturing process and identify opportunities to make the part simpler, faster, more repeatable or less expensive to produce. Enjoys being on the shop floor and solving problems with the people actually making the parts. Can mentor younger engineers without micromanaging them. Is comfortable challenging the way something has always been done. And is excited about where manufacturing is going—not where it has been.

You Should Be Interested in Things Like...

Automation.

5-axis and mill-turn manufacturing.

In-process probing and inspection.

Better workholding.

Standardized tooling.

Reducing setup time.

CAM and programming automation.

Machine connectivity.

Data-driven manufacturing.

Lights-out production.

Using technology to remove repetitive work from engineers, programmers and machinists.

We're actively investing in these areas and want someone who wants to help build that environment.

What We Don't Need

We aren't looking for someone whose manufacturing engineering experience has primarily consisted of paperwork, supplier management or sitting in meetings. Documentation matters. Quality systems matter. AS9100 matters.

But this position starts with understanding how parts are actually made.

We also aren't looking for someone who believes years of experience automatically mean there's nothing left to learn.

The best candidate will bring experience to Reata while remaining curious enough to learn from the people already here.

Experience

We're more interested in what you've done than the number of years you've been doing it. A strong candidate will likely have approximately 7+ years of manufacturing, machining, programming or manufacturing engineering experience, including significant experience in precision CNC machining.

Experience with aerospace, defense, medical-device or similarly demanding manufacturing is highly desirable. Experience with 5-axis machining, mill-turn equipment, CAM programming, tooling, fixturing, automation or process development is a major plus.

A bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline is welcome—but we will also consider candidates who developed exceptional manufacturing knowledge through machining, programming and hands-on manufacturing experience.

What Success Looks Like

A year from now, we don't just want to be able to point to the processes you've improved. We want to be able to point to the people you've made better. Our younger engineers should know more. Our processes should be more repeatable. Our machines should be easier to keep productive. Our quoting assumptions should better reflect reality. And knowledge that once existed in one person's head should increasingly become part of how Reata operates.

If that sounds like the kind of manufacturing organization you'd like to help build, we'd like to talk with you.