What are the responsibilities and job description for the Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Tooling & Ground Support Equipment position at HABCO Industries?
Lead Manufacturing Engineering for Aerospace Tooling & GSE
For over 50 years, Habco Industries has partnered with the world’s leading aerospace OEMs and aircraft operators—fixed and rotary wing—to deliver precision tools, ground support, and test equipment. Rooted in Lean practices and a relentless customer focus, we’re expanding—and we’re looking for a leader ready to optimize how complex, low-volume, high-mix aerospace products are conceived and built.
A day in this role
You’ll start with a stand-up across manufacturing engineering, aligning schedules, resources, and priorities. Next, you’ll review active Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), ensuring technical integrity across MOM/BOM updates. A floor walk follows—checking tooling, fixtures, and special test equipment builds; validating process controls for pressure, temperature, flow, and torque; and coaching engineers on process ownership. Midday, you might finalize a machine tool program, advise on a make/buy decision, or refine a hydraulic or pneumatic schematic. In the afternoon, you’ll meet with a key supplier to resolve a test setup constraint, join a customer check-in on product performance, and close the day by mentoring team members and scheduling cross-functional postmortems.
What you’ll lead and deliver
This position requires the use of information that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All accepted applications must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, Political Asylee, or Refugee).
**Habco is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. **
**All candidates must be U.S. citizens or currently have a Green Card to be eligible to work in our ITAR environment. **
For over 50 years, Habco Industries has partnered with the world’s leading aerospace OEMs and aircraft operators—fixed and rotary wing—to deliver precision tools, ground support, and test equipment. Rooted in Lean practices and a relentless customer focus, we’re expanding—and we’re looking for a leader ready to optimize how complex, low-volume, high-mix aerospace products are conceived and built.
A day in this role
You’ll start with a stand-up across manufacturing engineering, aligning schedules, resources, and priorities. Next, you’ll review active Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), ensuring technical integrity across MOM/BOM updates. A floor walk follows—checking tooling, fixtures, and special test equipment builds; validating process controls for pressure, temperature, flow, and torque; and coaching engineers on process ownership. Midday, you might finalize a machine tool program, advise on a make/buy decision, or refine a hydraulic or pneumatic schematic. In the afternoon, you’ll meet with a key supplier to resolve a test setup constraint, join a customer check-in on product performance, and close the day by mentoring team members and scheduling cross-functional postmortems.
What you’ll lead and deliver
- Manage and develop a team of manufacturing engineers—own hiring, reviews, and performance management; drive resource planning and project scheduling.
- Serve as the primary technical authority for new process development and product extensions, including process design, CNC/machine tool programming, make/buy analysis, and progress tracking.
- Direct departmental initiatives to design new products, update legacy designs, improve production techniques, and create test equipment with robust procedures.
- Own the development and governance of engineering processes and procedures; ensure disciplined creation and administration of MOMs and BOMs.
- Safeguard the technical integrity of all manufacturing documentation and the Engineering Change Process (ECR).
- Institutionalize a cadence of team, cross-functional, project, and postmortem meetings.
- Mentor engineers on technical standards, GD&T, DFM/DFA, and end-to-end process accountability.
- Engage directly with customers on product and performance matters; collaborate with suppliers on build, test, and production issues.
- Champion safety—ensure consistent adherence to all policies and procedures.
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and 7–10 years of progressive manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace.
- 3 years managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
- Depth in Manufacturing and Electrical Engineering principles, standards, and methods.
- Fluent with drafting standards: Y14.5M-1994, Y14.38M, Y14.100M; familiar with applicable ASTM standards.
- Experienced with process control and measurement instrumentation (pressure, temperature, level, flow, force, torque).
- Proficient in SolidWorks—creating solid models and sheet metal flat patterns from customer 2D packages; 3D simulation a plus.
- Hydraulic and pneumatic schematic development in AutoCAD (2D).
- Working knowledge of GD&T; strong Office 365 proficiency; ERP experience (Epicor/Kinetic a plus).
- Excellent written and verbal communication; proven team-building leadership.
- Detail-driven with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.
- Experience with AS9100, Lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement is a plus.
- GD&T; Blueprint Reading
- OEM manufacturing collaboration
- Leadership, supervisory experience; coaching and mentoring
- Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering; Process Engineering
- CAD/CAM and CAD software
- Mechanical Design & Engineering; DFM/DFA
- Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement
- Manufacturing environment experience; AS9100
- Basic Computer Skills; Office 365; ERP systems (Epicor/Kinetic)
- SolidWorks for 2D drawings and 3D modeling
- ERP Software
This position requires the use of information that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All accepted applications must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, Political Asylee, or Refugee).
**Habco is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. **
**All candidates must be U.S. citizens or currently have a Green Card to be eligible to work in our ITAR environment. **