Manufacturing Lead Engineer - Additive
About The Position
Eaton’s AER HQ Headquarters division is currently seeking a Manufacturing Lead Engineer - Additive. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is transforming the aerospace industry, enabling innovative designs, improved performance, reduced lead times, and new opportunities for growth. Eaton Aerospace has been at the forefront of adopting and industrializing metal additive manufacturing technologies, delivering flight-critical hardware and driving significant expansion across our aerospace portfolio. As our additive manufacturing business continues to grow, we are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to join our Digital Design and Additive Manufacturing Center in Charleston, South Carolina. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in advancing aerospace manufacturing technologies while working on cutting-edge metal additive manufacturing programs for flight hardware applications. In this role, you will serve as a technical leader in manufacturing quality and inspection development, partnering closely with customers, design engineers, quality professionals, and additive manufacturing process specialists to establish robust inspection methods and manufacturing controls for complex aerospace components. You will help define and validate inspection strategies, develop standards and best practices, and ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet demanding customer and regulatory requirements.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering or Material Science from an accredited institution.
- 5+ years experience leading component manufacturing quality and inspection development, partnering closely with customers, design engineers, quality professionals, and/or additive manufacturing process specialists to establish robust inspection methods and manufacturing controls.
- Candidate will not need sponsorship now or in the future.
- All applicants must be U.S. Citizens for this role due to Military Defense sensitivity and exposure.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with statistical analysis to define trends and summarize material property results and process performance/health (familiar with Minitab or equivalent statistical analysis software).
- Expert knowledge of GD&T, datuming schemes, and inspection strategy development.
- Strong product manufacturing and process development experience.
- Experience designing manufacturing and inspection tooling, fixtures, gauges, and specialty equipment.
- Comprehensive knowledge of dimensional inspection and metrology techniques.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling.
- Hands-on approach with manufacturing equipment and shop-floor problem solving.
- Strong critical thinking and structured problem-solving skills.
- Positive, action-oriented mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
- Expertise with aluminum and titanium AM material systems is preferred.
- Problem-solving methodologies and risk assessment tools (e.g., Six Sigma, 8D, RCCA, PFMEA)
- Proficient in the use of MS Office
- Familiar/experienced with the use of Minitab, FEA software.
Responsibilities
- Review engineering drawings, specifications, and product requirements with strong application of GD&T, datuming, and inspection planning.
- Develop robust manufacturing, inspection, fixturing, gaging, heat treatment, surface finishing, and deburring strategies.
- Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Inspection (DFI) initiatives with engineering teams, customers, and suppliers.
- Create and maintain APQP deliverables including Process Flow Diagrams, PFMEAs, Control Plans, FAIRs, MSAs, and capability studies.
- Design and implement manufacturing procedures, work instructions, inspection methods, and process controls.
- Develop and validate new manufacturing, inspection, and post-processing methods for additive manufacturing applications.
- Apply broad inspection methodologies including manual metrology, gauges, CMM, 3D scanning, and other conventional measurement techniques.
- Utilize 3D CAD modeling to develop manufacturing aids, fixtures, gauges, and tooling solutions.
- Lead MRB activities and provide technical disposition support for nonconforming product.
- Conduct root cause investigations and implement corrective actions for internal, customer, and supplier quality issues.
- Partner with suppliers and Supplier Quality teams to improve process capability, quality performance, and compliance.
- Lead internal audits and support customer, regulatory, and certification audits, including AS9100 requirements.
- Analyze manufacturing and quality data using statistical tools to monitor process capability and drive continuous improvement.
- Lead initiatives focused on yield improvement, dimensional conformance, inspection efficiency, cost reduction, and process robustness.
- Support MES and digital manufacturing initiatives to improve process control and production visibility.
- Serve as a hands-on technical resource for additive manufacturing equipment, inspection systems, and post-processing operations.
- Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor identifying opportunities, troubleshooting issues, and improving processes.
- Collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, research organizations, universities, and government-funded programs to advance additive manufacturing technologies.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, ownership, critical thinking, and continuous improvement.
Benefits
- Health and Welfare benefits
- Retirement benefits
- Programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
