Engineering Manager - Aerospace Blades & Airfoils

Job Description

Job Description

DRT Aerospace is seeking a hands-on Engineering Manager to lead Manufacturing Engineering at our Winsted facility, a growing aerospace operation specializing in complex blade, airfoil, and rotating engine component machining.

This is a high-impact leadership role for an engineer who combines strong technical expertise with a passion for developing people and improving manufacturing performance. You will lead a team of Manufacturing Engineers and CNC Programmers while driving process capability, automation, quality, productivity, and new product introduction initiatives across advanced multi-axis machining operations.

If you thrive on solving complex manufacturing challenges, working alongside machinists and programmers, and influencing the future of aerospace manufacturing technology, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll Do

Manufacturing Engineering Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop Manufacturing Engineers, CNC Programmers, and technical staff supporting aerospace blade production.

• Establish the manufacturing engineering strategy for aerospace blades, airfoils, vanes, blisks, impellers, and other rotating engine components.

• Provide technical ownership across the manufacturing value stream, from machining strategy and NC programming through final production release.

• Build engineering capability through coaching, technical reviews, standard work, and knowledge sharing.

Advanced CNC Manufacturing

• Provide technical leadership for multi-axis CNC machining, NC programming, tooling, fixturing, workholding, probing, and process optimization.

• Support and improve HAMUEL HSTM blade-machining platforms and Siemens SINUMERIK-controlled processes.

• Optimize Matsuura MAM72 5-axis machining systems, including FANUC controls, palletized production, and unattended manufacturing.

• Lead programming and process development using NX CAM, Mastercam, NREC, VERICUT, or similar advanced manufacturing software.

• Apply advanced 5-axis machining concepts including tool center point control, work offsets, probing strategies, coordinate transformation, and error compensation.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Improve first-pass yield, process capability, throughput, machine utilization, quality, and on-time delivery.

• Develop and maintain PFMEA, Control Plans, Process Maps, Gage R&R, SPC, and other process-control systems.

• Lead root cause and corrective action activities to permanently resolve manufacturing issues.

• Use CMM, ZEISS Optical, Blue Light, and other inspection data to identify trends and improve process performance.

• Reduce scrap, rework, cycle time, and process variation through data-driven continuous improvement.

NPI, Automation & Technology

• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI), First Article Inspection (FAI), process qualification, manufacturing readiness, and production ramp activities.

• Develop manufacturing plans, routings, work instructions, tooling strategies, and process controls.

• Lead automation, machine-upgrade, probing, and capital equipment projects.

• Expand automated and lights-out manufacturing capabilities where appropriate.

• Support quoting, cost estimating, industrialization, and production readiness efforts for new and transferred programs.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Quality, Operations, Materials, and customers to resolve technical and manufacturing challenges.

• Ensure compliance with AS9100, GD&T requirements, customer specifications, and aerospace quality standards.

• Maintain configuration control for CNC programs, manufacturing documentation, tooling definitions, setup instructions, and process revisions.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a leader who started close to the manufacturing process and understands what it takes to build world-class machining operations.

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace blade, airfoil, vane, blisk/IBR, impeller, or rotating component manufacturing.

• 5-axis CNC machining and advanced manufacturing processes.

• NX CAM, Mastercam, NREC, VERICUT, or comparable CAM and simulation platforms.

• Siemens SINUMERIK and FANUC controls.

• Tooling and fixturing for complex free-form or thin-wall components.

• Probing, automated measurement, palletized manufacturing, and lights-out operation.

• Titanium, Inconel, Waspaloy, Rene alloys, and other nickel-based superalloys.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred.

• 7+ years of progressive Manufacturing Engineering or advanced machining experience.

• 3+ years of engineering leadership experience.

• Strong background in CNC machining, process development, manufacturing optimization, and problem-solving.

• Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, Gage R&R, RCCA, NPI, FAI, GD&T, AS9100, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.

Why DRT Aerospace?

At DRT Aerospace, you'll do more