Aerospace Application Engineer

This is a customer-facing technical role combining cutting tool application engineering, hands-on troubleshooting, process optimization, and business development. The Aerospace Application Engineer will work directly with customers on the manufacturing floor to improve machining performance, solve tooling challenges, conduct tooling trials, and identify new applications and opportunities.

Resposbilities

• Provide hands-on cutting tool application support to aerospace and defense customers

• Troubleshoot cutting tool and machining issues directly on the customer floor

• Recommend speeds and feeds to improve cycle times, tool life, quality, and manufacturability

• Analyze machining requirements including tolerances, surface finishes, hole quality, SPC requirements, geometries, power, thrust, and balance

• Conduct cutting tool testing and trials, document results, and recommend process improvements

• Develop tooling and process optimization solutions for customer applications

• Train customers on the proper implementation and use of cutting tools

• Serve as the technical liaison between customers, sales, manufacturing, engineering, and customer service

• Identify new applications and tooling opportunities within existing and prospective aerospace customers

• Support sales growth and territory objectives through technical expertise and value-added solutions
• Maintain detailed technical documentation of applications, testing, troubleshooting, and optimization activities

• 3-5+ years of experience in an aircraft/aerostructure manufacturing environment
• Experience with aircraft assembly or subassembly

• Exposure to cutting tools such as drills, reamers, end mills, countersinks, etc

• Technical education, military training, or equivalent hands-on experience comparable to a 2-4 year technical degree program

• Experience with metal cutting and machining processes within aerospace/defense manufacturing and/or aerostructure assembly

• Strong understanding of cutting tool applications, machining processes, speeds and feeds, tool life, surface finish, tolerances, and geometries

• Hands-on experience troubleshooting and optimizing machining processes

• Strong customer-facing communication and technical presentation skills

• Ability to work independently and manage customer and territory priorities

• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to identify and develop new applications

• Ability to travel up to 50%

• Must be located in or near the Wichita, Kansas region

Preferred Experience

• Manual drilling and reaming experience

• ADU drilling and reaming experience

• CAM programming

• 2D and 3D CAD drafting

• Aerostructure design experience

• Project management experience or PMP certification

• Leadership experience

• Opportunity to work directly with leading aerospace and defense manufacturing applications

• Hands-on role combining technical problem-solving, machining optimization, and customer interaction

• Career development and advancement opportunities

• Training opportunities both domestically and abroad

• Benefits eligibility beginning on your first day, including medical, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, and 401(k)

• Tuition reimbursement

• Employee wellness programs