What are the responsibilities and job description for the Aerospace CNC CAM Process Engineer position at AeroDef Manufacturing?
Final Frontier Manufacturing is where engineers and builders turn bold designs into flight-ready hardware—fast. We’re a precision machining startup focused on rockets and satellites, building the factory that builds the parts. We iterate quickly and deploy new tech that makes us faster, more capable, and more precise.
Founded in 2022, we’ve shipped $10M of product in three years and our trajectory is steep. We’re a small, high-talent-density crew—you’ll be our second full-time Manufacturing Engineer and your fingerprints will be on everything we ship.
Your day, for real
Morning: Grab a hot breakfast, pull up Mastercam, and map strategies for 3- to 5-axis and mill/turn parts. Translate complex geometry and tight tolerances into reliable, efficient toolpaths. Sketch fixture concepts with the toolroom to minimize setup and maximize repeatability.
Midday: Build process flows and risk-based plans that actually accelerate the floor. Partner with Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Operations to turn engineering intent into scalable workflows. Stand up prove-outs with machinists and QA, and iterate from first chip to green tag.
Afternoon: Push toward lights-out—tune cycle time, extend tool life, and connect the dots with analytics. Refine cobot machine tending on UR / FANUC CRX cells: grippers, cell layout, changeover, and safety. Test AI-assisted CAM templates and verification flows. Capture it all with clear setup sheets and documentation.
Beyond parts: Help architect our next phase—contribute to a larger facility layout (material flow, utilities, metrology labs, tool crib, automation cells) and implement practical digital traveler, access control, and traceability to support a CMMC cybersecurity audit.
What you’ll own
You move faster than bureaucracy. You think in systems, not tasks. You see a design and instantly visualize the fixture, setup, toolpath, and inspection plan. You like solving technical puzzles—and then hardening them into robust process. You value rigor and low-friction execution, can debate well, and then build together.
You’ll work across multiple top-tier (confidential) space programs—varied materials, geometries, and processes—while contributing to the broader reindustrialization of U.S. manufacturing.
What we offer
We’re proudly independent—no VC, no burn, no nonsense.
What you’re fluent in
Founded in 2022, we’ve shipped $10M of product in three years and our trajectory is steep. We’re a small, high-talent-density crew—you’ll be our second full-time Manufacturing Engineer and your fingerprints will be on everything we ship.
Your day, for real
Morning: Grab a hot breakfast, pull up Mastercam, and map strategies for 3- to 5-axis and mill/turn parts. Translate complex geometry and tight tolerances into reliable, efficient toolpaths. Sketch fixture concepts with the toolroom to minimize setup and maximize repeatability.
Midday: Build process flows and risk-based plans that actually accelerate the floor. Partner with Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Operations to turn engineering intent into scalable workflows. Stand up prove-outs with machinists and QA, and iterate from first chip to green tag.
Afternoon: Push toward lights-out—tune cycle time, extend tool life, and connect the dots with analytics. Refine cobot machine tending on UR / FANUC CRX cells: grippers, cell layout, changeover, and safety. Test AI-assisted CAM templates and verification flows. Capture it all with clear setup sheets and documentation.
Beyond parts: Help architect our next phase—contribute to a larger facility layout (material flow, utilities, metrology labs, tool crib, automation cells) and implement practical digital traveler, access control, and traceability to support a CMMC cybersecurity audit.
What you’ll own
- End-to-end process design for high-value components and assemblies—turning challenging geometry into stable, repeatable strategies.
- Tooling and fixture concepts with the toolroom to reduce setups and drive consistency.
- Cross-functional scale-up with Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Operations.
- Automation and data integration for cycle-time optimization, tool-life management, and closed-loop feedback.
- CAM programming and refinement (Mastercam or equivalent) for 3- to 5-axis and mill/turn work.
- On-floor launch and continuous improvement with machinists, QA, and the toolroom.
You move faster than bureaucracy. You think in systems, not tasks. You see a design and instantly visualize the fixture, setup, toolpath, and inspection plan. You like solving technical puzzles—and then hardening them into robust process. You value rigor and low-friction execution, can debate well, and then build together.
You’ll work across multiple top-tier (confidential) space programs—varied materials, geometries, and processes—while contributing to the broader reindustrialization of U.S. manufacturing.
What we offer
- Top 25% compensation and benefits.
- Medical/dental/vision, 401(k), PTO, holidays.
- Free hot breakfast and lunch provided daily.
- Modern tools, a collaborative culture, and meaningful impact on hardware that flies.
We’re proudly independent—no VC, no burn, no nonsense.
What you’re fluent in
- GD&T
- CNC Tooling
- CNC Programming
- AS9100
- Industrial Robot Programming
- PLC Programming Experience
- CAD/CAM Software
- CAM Software (Mastercam)
Salary : $40 - $55