Manufacturing Engineer I

Leonardo•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer contributes to the design, manufacturing, and testing of aircraft and aerospace products. The role involves understanding aircraft mechanical and avionics systems and coordinating the aircraft production process from work order analysis through final product delivery. This includes sequencing aircraft builds, managing production work instructions, designing tooling, leading improvement initiatives, troubleshooting technical aircraft issues, and representing the company with internal and external stakeholders. The engineer provides guidance across functions including Operations, Procurement, Material Planning, Program Management, Design, Quality, and Industrial Engineering to facilitate an efficient helicopter build cycle. The role assesses proposed projects for safety and feasibility, evaluates designs against aerospace safety-of-flight principles and customer requirements, and works toward cost optimization. It also involves coordinating research and commonality across programs, collaborating with purchasing and vendors, and generating master bills of material that include required production tooling. Strong communication is needed to coordinate subassembly production with other departments and external vendors and to explain blueprint requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Aerospace, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
3–5 years of work experience in an aerospace environment or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of FAA certification requirements and procedures.
Strong communication skills.
Good informatic skills.
Program management skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal direction.

Nice To Haves

EASA knowledge.
Familiarity with aerospace mechanical, flight controls, communication and navigation, engine, hydraulic, and fuel systems.
Knowledge of Six Sigma and lean manufacturing.
Knowledge of Italian or Polish.

Responsibilities

Analyze company work orders to plan current and future aircraft configurations.
Manage aircraft build costs through make-or-buy decisions, determining whether work should be performed internally or outsourced based on opportunity and capability.
Establish long-term production bill-of-material business plans for five-year lookahead activities.
Define manufacturing capability for the plant and coordinate production-layout design with Corporate Industrial Engineering and Facilities.
Manage internal and external suppliers to ensure their planning and technical understanding meet the Manufacturing Engineering Department’s expectations for the aircraft production master schedule.
Evaluate and validate inputs from Design and Programs organizations to create and maintain aircraft work instructions.
Analyze and resolve design conflicts between multiple design holders (TC and STC), providing resolution and feedback on design procedures.
Formulate and implement aircraft build sequences, tailoring them to specific customer requirements.
Provide floor support, incorporate feedback, and work with operations technicians and management to resolve issues and ensure understanding of aircraft as-built plans and work instructions.
Design cable harnesses and cable layouts for product lines manufactured at the plant.
Apply lean manufacturing principles to the workflow.
Assess proposed projects for safety and feasibility and evaluate designs in relation to safety-of-flight principles, customer requirements, and cost optimization.
Coordinate production of subassemblies with other departments and external vendors and explain blueprint requirements.
Generate master bills of material for new projects, including tooling needed to meet production objectives.