Composites Manufacturing Engineer

Composites Manufacturing Engineer

The Opportunity

StaffRight Associates is recruiting for a Composites Manufacturing Engineer to join a full-service engineering and manufacturing organization that builds, assembles, and tests military mechanical and structural components for leading aerospace and defense manufacturers. In this role, you will develop, refine, and sustain production methods for composite structural parts and assemblies, spanning hand layup, resin infusion, RTM, autoclave curing, and out-of-autoclave processing.

This is a fully on-site position based at the company's headquarters in Hauppauge, NY (Suffolk County, Long Island); remote work is not available. The Composites Manufacturing Engineer will coach production staff on process execution while advising leadership on strategy and resource planning. As a small-to-midsize business serving some of the largest and most innovative names in defense and aerospace, the client offers direct exposure to the CEO and senior leadership, creating a clear path to expanded influence and long-term career growth.

What You'll Do

• Engineer and verify composite tools, jigs, fixtures, and templates, along with assembly aids, to keep production efficient.
• Author and keep current the routers, work instructions, build plans, process specifications, and SOPs, ensuring alignment with customer, DoD, and internal standards.
• Qualify composite materials, production methods, and tooling against MIL-STDs, program-specific requirements, and aerospace OEM specifications.
• Establish processes for layup, bonding, curing, trimming, drilling, machining, and final assembly of composite structures.
• Assess CAD models, engineering drawings, and technical specs for producibility, promoting Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) initiatives.
• Partner with suppliers, customers, and internal Engineering, Quality, Production, and Program Management teams to advance new product development, readiness for production, and ongoing process gains.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action for manufacturing problems, quality escapes, discrepancies, and nonconforming material.
• Contribute to Material Review Board (MRB) dispositions, First Article Inspection (FAI), Engineering Change Order (ECO) rollout, process qualification, and readiness reviews.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts that raise safety, quality, manufacturability, and throughput while lowering cost.
• Guide manufacturing personnel on process execution and counsel management on strategy and staffing needs.

What You Bring

• 5–10 years of Composite Manufacturing experience within the aerospace and/or defense manufacturing sector
• Hands-on expertise with Hand Layup, Resin Infusion, RTM, Autoclave Curing, and Out-Of-Autoclave Processing
• Proficiency interpreting CAD models and engineering drawings
• Working knowledge of MIL-STD requirements, aerospace OEM specifications, and DoD documentation standards
• Experience applying Design For Manufacturing (DFM) and Design For Assembly (DFA) principles
• Track record leading Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action, including Material Review Board (MRB) and First Article Inspection (FAI) activities
• Bachelor's degree
• Security clearance required
• U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency required
• Must be within reasonable commuting distance of the headquarters in western Suffolk County, Long Island

Preferred:

• Aspirations to grow into a managerial role

Compensation & Total Rewards

• Salary: $160,000–$175,000
• Sign-on bonus: $5,000
• Engagement: Full-time, direct hire; on-site in Hauppauge, NY
• Relocation assistance: Negotiable

Joining StaffRight Associates

When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you're doing more than pursuing a job, you're aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions. We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.