Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Precision Aerospace Products

Westbrook, CT | Onsite

Target Base Salary: $110,000–$125,000, depending on experience

Plus generous bonus and an unusually strong benefits package

I’m recruiting a Senior Manufacturing Engineer for a highly respected precision manufacturer in Westbrook, CT.

The business problem behind this opening is pretty straightforward: this product group is growing rapidly, with approximately 50% growth anticipated next year, and Manufacturing Engineering needs additional technical leadership to keep up.

The products are highly engineered precision components used in demanding aerospace and space applications, where quality and reliability aren't negotiable.

This isn't just a more experienced Manufacturing Engineer position.

They need someone who can own difficult manufacturing projects, stay close to the processes and equipment, and provide technical leadership to a seasoned group of Manufacturing Engineers.

For the right person, there is a potential path toward becoming a Lead Manufacturing Engineer.

What You'll Be Walking Into

This is an unusual manufacturing environment.

Many of the products involve highly precise mechanical assembly processes that don't easily lend themselves to full automation. Manufacturing includes operations such as coil winding, termination, precision valve assembly, grinding, fitting, fixturing, and working with specialty materials.

You aren't expected to arrive knowing these specific processes.

What matters is having the mechanical manufacturing foundation to understand them, ask the right questions, and solve problems.

You'll be involved with:

• Leading manufacturing engineering projects from problem definition through implementation.
• Developing, improving, redesigning, and implementing manufacturing tooling and fixtures.
• Solving difficult mechanical, process, equipment, and production problems.
• Supporting process development and continuous improvement.
• Improving manufacturing quality, repeatability, throughput, ergonomics, and reliability.
• Evaluating manufacturing processes and equipment as the business scales.
• Supporting new product introductions and production growth.
• Working with specialty materials, precision components, fits, tolerances, and mechanical assemblies.
• Collaborating with internal automation specialists as additional automation is introduced.
• Providing technical direction and mentoring to other Manufacturing Engineers.
• Working closely with Product Engineering, Quality, Operations, Tooling, and Automation.

The Leadership Challenge

This is an important part of the position.

The Manufacturing Engineering team includes experienced engineers with strong technical backgrounds and, in some cases, decades of experience.

The right person won't lead that group simply because of a title.

They'll need to earn credibility through technical judgment, communication, follow-through, and the ability to get things done.

Previous engineering leadership or management experience would be valuable, but we're also interested in experienced technical leaders who have successfully led projects and influenced other engineers without relying on formal authority.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.
• Significant hands-on manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and practical problem-solving ability.
• Experience leading manufacturing projects through implementation.
• Experience with tooling, fixtures, mechanical equipment, or manufacturing process development.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing and mechanical problems.
• Experience mentoring, guiding, or technically leading other engineers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with experienced engineers, technicians, operators, and cross-functional teams.
• CAD experience; SolidWorks is preferred.

Particularly Valuable Experience

Any combination of the following would strengthen a candidate's background:

• Tooling and fixture design
• Precision or small-component manufacturing
• Mechanical assembly
• Machining, grinding, or metalworking processes
• Metallurgy or materials knowledge
• Electromechanical products
• Manufacturing automation
• New Product Introduction
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Aerospace or other high-reliability manufacturing environments

Automation experience is valuable, but this is not an Automation Engineer position. Dedicated automation resources are available internally. Understanding how automated equipment works and being able to collaborate effectively with automation specialists is more important than being a PLC programmer.

Why Consider It?

The immediate challenge is significant: rapid growth is creating real manufacturing and engineering demands.

But that's also what makes the opportunity interesting.

This is an engineering-driven organization where Manufacturing Engineers work directly with products, processes, tooling, equipment, and other technical disciplines. The company develops an unusual amount of its manufacturing technology internally and offers engineers the opportunity to remain technically involved as their careers grow.

This position offers the opportunity to:

• Have a meaningful impact during a period of significant business growth.
• Solve difficult manufacturing problems rather than simply maintain established processes.
• Work with highly engineered products supporting aerospace and space applications.
• Provide technical leadership to an experienced engineering team.
• Work alongside dedicated internal tooling and automation resources.
• Potentially grow into a Lead Manufacturing Engineer position.

• Seniority Level
• Mid-Senior level
• Industry
• Aviation and Aerospace Component ManufacturingMedical Equipment ManufacturingMetal Valve, Ball, and Roller Manufacturing
• Employment Type
• Full-time