Lead Manufacturing Specialist

About Us:
Middle River Aerostructure Systems is a world-leading manufacturer of thrust reversers (the braking system on a jet engine), engine nacelle components and specialized aerostructures. It supplies and supports these products for engine makers, airplane manufacturers and aircraft operators. Located on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore, MRAS has a 1.7-million sq. ft. facility situated on 180 acres – where the company and its predecessors have designed, built and equipped civil and military aircraft for over 90 years. In 2019, MRAS was acquired by ST Engineering North America, the U.S. affiliate of Singapore-based ST Engineering – becoming a part of its global network of aerospace facilities and offices. With the ownership change, the company was renamed Middle River Aerostructure Systems.

Job Summary

The Manufacturing Specialist will work on the Process Engineering team, supporting composite manufacturing from tool design to part manufacture to assembly. This role works closely with various internal functional groups (Operations, Engineering, Sourcing/Procurement, Quality) to support production and development efforts. 

The Manufacturing Specialist will play a key role in supporting the process development and tooling stream of the operations team.  This role will have a broad scope that ranges from tooling design and development internally and externally to developing new processes and procedures to optimize production and reduce cost.  On the technical side this person will lead NC program review and refinement and assist the automation team and shop floor operators with problem solving and task resolution.

Responsibilities:

1. Technical & Tooling Leadership

• Review processes and drive refinements to increase safety to parts and people.
• Support cost reduction initiatives.
• Provide manufacturing support to shop floor personnel.
• Lead Zero defect initiative to reduce recurring manufacturing defects and provide rework instructions to manufacturing as required.
• Provide cycle time estimating in support of MRAS capacity efforts.

2. Tooling & Machine Support

• Provide tooling concepts as needed for products and legacy process improvements.
• Support tool design reviews with suppliers as technical leader.
• Support 3D printed tooling development.
• Help develop and refine TDM for new design allowable for 3D tooling.
• Design and testing of perishable tooling stream
• Create V4 CATIA Program updates for Milling Machines

Skills:

1. Technical

• Catia V4 and/or V5 (including knowledge of V4 to V5 conversion)
• Tool design and fabrication experience

2. Critical Thinking:

• Understand business and technology development strategies.
• Execute material testing and create material database to support the overall advanced material strategy.

• Able to communicate and present application opportunities that support the broader vision.

3. Communication:

• Create and communicate development strategies and progress to senior leadership.
• Effectively liaison with the other functional groups to support development projects.
• Effectively communicated with external entities on application and testing progress.

Qualifications:

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or associated engineering discipline with relevant composite part experience (NC Programming and Tooling technology field or equivalent experience preferred)
• 8+ years’ experience in Aerospace Manufacturing or engineering relating to developing composite material and structures or aerospace structures.
• Experience with:
  • Composite bonding tooling and operations.
  • Trimming and drilling of Metal and Composite Structures.
  • Assembly tooling and process.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen OR Green card holder.

MRAS is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value.