Director Chief Manufacturing Engineer (Onsite)

RTX•Riverside, CA

3d•$204,800 - $389,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Manufacturing Engineer for Composite Materials is responsible for defining, developing, and validating new innovative manufacturing processes for advanced composite structures. This role will lead the technical strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of advanced composite fabrication methods to support high-rate program requirements related to quality, cost, and schedule. The position provides cross‑functional technical leadership, ensuring robust manufacturability, production readiness, and long‑term capability growth across the enterprise.

Requirements

Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 14 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 12 years of experience.
10+ years of experience in composite materials manufacturing and new process development, within aerospace or high-performance structures.
Technical expertise in composite fabrication processes such as hand layup, automated fiber placement (AFP), automated tape laying (ATL), resin transfer molding (RTM), out‑of‑autoclave (OOA) curing, autoclave operations, and NDI methods.
Experience with composite materials behavior, prepreg systems, adhesives, sandwich construction, tooling materials, and cure kinetics.
Experience with process qualification, statistical methods, and production transition.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in related field.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams and influence manufacturing strategy.
Experience with digital manufacturing, automation systems, or model-based engineering.
Prior experience supporting large-scale aerostructures or defense/commercial aerospace manufacturing programs.
Lean/Six Sigma certification.

Responsibilities

Develop the manufacturing process strategy and roadmap for composite structures, including material selection, layup methods, tooling approaches, cure processes, and inspection technologies including full automation for future industrialization.
Lead the design, development, and validation of end‑to‑end composite manufacturing processes from concept through full-rate production demonstrating statistical process control to be able to enter high-rate manufacturing for future aircraft platforms.
Establish and maintain manufacturing standards, specifications, and best practices for composite fabrication, ensuring alignment with engineering requirements and regulatory compliance.
Partner with design engineering to optimize part configurations for manufacturability, cost efficiency, and long-term production stability.
Drive process maturity using PFMEA, DFM/A, statistical process control, and robust root cause analysis methodologies.
Lead the evaluation and implementation of new composite technologies, automation solutions, digital manufacturing tools, and advanced materials.
Oversee tooling strategy, including tool design requirements, tool qualification, and long-term tool capability management.
Provide technical leadership to engineers, suppliers, and production teams; mentor staff in composite processing fundamentals and advanced techniques.
Ensure processes meet all quality, regulatory, and safety requirements, including qualification and certification activities.
Serve as the technical authority/ signatory for composite manufacturing development, transition to production, rate increases, and field support.
Provide technical leadership and training to develop a competent future workforce.
Work across global engineering team to create supply of quality parts.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
Tuition reimbursement program
Student Loan Repayment Program
Life insurance and disability coverage
Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
Adoption Assistance
Autism Benefit
Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs