Manufacturing Engineer

Fairbanks Morse Defense•Pascagoula, MS

25d•Onsite

About The Position

At Bird Johnson, a Fairbanks Morse Defense company, the Manufacturing Engineer develops and validates machining processes for complex naval propulsion components, including controllable-pitch and monoblock propellers. The role owns work from model to machine, including multi-axis CNC programming, program prove-outs with machinists, and resolution of production challenges. Components include large blade castings and monoblock propellers with demanding geometries and tolerances. The engineer works in an integrated Siemens NX CAM and Teamcenter PLM environment to create associative CNC programs and maintain the digital thread from design through manufacturing. The position also contributes to programming standards, simulation and digital manufacturing workflows, and the launch of two new multi-axis gantry CNC machines planned for the Pascagoula plant expansion. The work is split between an engineering office and active shop-floor areas across multiple factory buildings. Standard machine-shop conditions apply. The role may involve occasional travel for vendor coordination or training. Applicants must be U.S. Persons under the cited ITAR/EAR definition, and U.S. citizenship is required; candidates must be eligible for a DoD confidential clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related discipline; alternatively, an associate’s degree in a technical discipline with 8 or more years of relevant experience; or no degree with 10 or more years of progressive manufacturing engineering and CNC programming experience demonstrating equivalent technical depth and breadth.
Proficiency or demonstrated aptitude with Siemens NX CAM, including fully associative programming linked to managed CAD data, or ability to learn rapidly.
VERICUT digital simulation experience, or ability to learn rapidly.
Experience with or strong foundational knowledge of Siemens 840D controls.
Working knowledge of Teamcenter PLM, or ability to learn rapidly.
Exposure to Renishaw and/or Siemens on-machine probing.
Ability to interpret GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and apply it to machining process development.
Strong technical writing ability.
U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a DoD confidential clearance.
Must qualify as a U.S. Person under 22 CFR §120.62.

Nice To Haves

Teamcenter Rich Client and Active Workspace experience.
Experience in aerospace, defense, or naval propulsion manufacturing with mature PLM-integrated programming workflows.

Responsibilities

Develop, prove out, and maintain fully associative NX CAM programs for 3- through 5-axis milling, turning, and mill-turn operations on Siemens 840D-controlled machines.
Create complex drive geometries, auxiliary surfaces, and containment boundaries using advanced NX curve and surface techniques for propulsion components.
Validate toolpaths using NX CSE and VERICUT, including gouge detection, collision checking, and full-environment machine simulation.
Program Renishaw and Siemens on-machine probing cycles for automated setup, in-process verification, and offset management.
Develop, maintain, and troubleshoot customized lights-out post processors for unattended machining across multiple machine configurations.
Follow and contribute to the company’s Master Model Concept using structured stage models and manufacturing method assemblies.
Work with CGTech to build and improve VERICUT machine simulation models, including kinematics, fixtures, tooling, and controller behavior.
Collaborate with external Siemens NX and Teamcenter engineering partners on Post Configurator development, CAM environment customization, template standardization, and workflow automation.
Manage manufacturing data in Teamcenter, including revision control, release workflows, and traceability from design through manufacturing.
Build and refine Manufacturing Resource Library structures, classification, and workflows in Teamcenter Rich Client and Active Workspace.
Develop Active Workspace search and visualization workflows that improve shop-floor access to manufacturing data.
Use Third Wave Systems Production Module for physics-based feed optimization and tool-life prediction.
Perform tool tap testing and cutting-force analysis to characterize machine dynamics and address chatter in difficult alloys.
Optimize machining processes for specific materials; select tooling, develop cutting parameters, and reduce cycle time.
Write and maintain technical instructions covering operation sequencing, tooling callouts, and quality requirements.
Develop pre-flight checklists for CNC setups, prove-outs, and first-article runs.
Provide technical support to machinists and operators during prove-outs, troubleshooting, and process adjustments.
Support alignment, calibration, and qualification of multi-axis machine tools.
Collaborate with quality and metrology on first-article inspections and CMM correlation.
Investigate machining-related non-conformances and author rework procedures.