Manufacturing Engineer / Estimator

YK Solutions•East Aurora, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineer / Estimator works with machinists, engineers, supervisors, and managers to keep production moving and ensure products meet quality standards. The role supports machining of complex aerospace components, resolves specification and product-deviation questions with design and quality engineering, coordinates production sequencing with scheduling, and supports quoting and first-pass process planning. The position develops, simulates, tests, and optimizes CNC programs using CAD/CAM technology; establishes machine setups; and provides current programs, posted code, setup documentation, and tooling information. It leads manufacturing teams through product execution, including machine-floor prove-outs and preparation for production release. The role also creates and approves work instructions, estimates new hardware, participates in Design for Manufacturing meetings, answers production process questions, helps resolve non-conformance issues, and implements lean process improvements to meet schedule and cost targets. The role is on-site in East Aurora, New York, and is a direct-hire position. The client will consider only U.S. citizens and green card holders. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or manufacturing engineering, or an associate degree with direct experience; alternatively, 10 or more years of manufacturing experience may substitute for the degree.
At least 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment involving heavy CNC machining or programming.
Manufacturing experience in a machine-shop environment and an in-depth understanding of manual machining methods, including tool selection, speeds, feeds, and horsepower.
Hands-on experience operating CNC mills, lathes, EDM, or grinding equipment.
Specific knowledge and experience with CAD/CAM technology and methodology, particularly NX, Mastercam, Espirit, and Mazatrol.
Experience working closely with shop-floor personnel to resolve issues involving tooling, machines, and related production matters.
Strong hands-on CNC machining experience, including demonstrated expertise in CNC programming and turning operations.
Must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

Nice To Haves

Experience driving process improvements, optimizing manufacturing workflows, implementing Lean Six Sigma principles, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
Proven experience machining parts from start to finish using manual turning and milling operations, with an understanding of the impact of programmed tool paths.

Responsibilities

Develop, write, simulate, test, and optimize CNC programs for numerically controlled tooling machinery using CAD/CAM technology and methodology.
Check completed CNC programs by running simulations or tests on Vericut.
Develop and document tooling-machine setups, including positioning and securing workpieces and tools relative to machine axes.
Provide current CNC programs, posted code, setup documentation, and tooling information for CNC-machined operations.
Lead a manufacturing team in preparing for and executing products through the shop, including running machine-floor prove-outs to validate processes before production release.
Create and approve final work instructions for development and production hardware.
Generate estimates for new hardware and enter them into the quoting system.
Participate in or lead Design for Manufacturing meetings.
Support production by answering process questions and using established processes to resolve product non-conformance issues.
Implement lean process improvements to meet schedule and cost targets.
Work with machinists and design and quality engineering to address machining issues, specification questions, and product deviations.
Coordinate with the scheduler to maintain an optimal production sequence of jobs.
Support quoting efforts and prepare first-pass processing methods for complex aerospace components.