Manufacturing Engineer - Composites $5,000 Sign-on Bonus

Applied Aerospace & Defense•Santa Ana, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Ready to engineer what’s next in aerospace? At Applied Aerospace and Defense, we don’t just build components — we build the systems that keep missions in the air and customers moving forward. If you’re passionate about composites, hands-on problem-solving, and making an impact where precision matters, this is your role. Since 1959, our Santa Ana facility has been manufacturing some of the industry’s most complex aerospace structures, assemblies, landing gear, and external fuel tanks. We innovate. We improve. We deliver. And we’re looking for a Manufacturing Engineer who shares that mindset. You’ll be at the center of composite manufacturing — defining processes, driving improvements, and shaping how mission-critical components are built. If you love diving into technical challenges, leading root-cause investigations, implementing smarter processes, and working side-by-side with production, quality, and engineering teams, you’ll thrive here.

Requirements

Strong background in aerospace composite manufacturing
Ability to create and improve manufacturing processes
Root-cause analysis and corrective action experience
Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, and SPC
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
A continuous improvement mindset and passion for engineering challenge
U.S. work authorization required.
Background check and drug screen required.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain advanced work instructions for composite production
Drive Safety, Cost, Quality, and Delivery performance with hands-on technical support
Support quoting activities with Purchasing and Business Development
Establish standard hours and process capability requirements
Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action implementation
Implement SPC on key composite processes
Translate engineering blueprints into clear, executable manufacturing instructions
Train operators and mentor engineers
Launch new processes for new product introduction
Drive productivity improvements and cost-saving initiatives
Assess and coordinate component repairs
Champion safety and quality every step of the way