Application Engineer

Company Description

SWORD Defense Systems delivers next-generation small arms and weapons technologies designed for modern warfighters. As a defense contractor supporting U.S. and allied government customers, the company focuses on systems that increase lethality while reducing sustainment burden. Its solutions are built to provide decisive battlefield advantages across the full spectrum of operations. Team members contribute to mission-critical products that have direct impact on defense capabilities and operational effectiveness. The environment emphasizes technical innovation, manufacturing excellence, reliability, and performance in demanding real-world conditions.

Role Description

The Applications Engineer is a full-time, onsite position based at SWORD Defense Systems' facility in Greenville, South Carolina. This hands-on role works directly alongside the Engineering and Operations teams to bridge the gap between product development and manufacturing. The Applications Engineer supports New Product Development (NPD) by developing and improving manufacturing processes, CNC operations, fixtures, tooling, workholding, drawings, and manufacturing documentation required to transition designs into reliable and repeatable production.

The Applications Engineer will work directly with CNC equipment and production personnel to develop, prove out, document, and improve manufacturing processes. Once a process is established, the engineer will train technicians and operators to successfully execute the operation in production. The role also supports Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, process optimization, and manufacturing readiness across new and existing products.

Primary Responsibilities

·        Work directly alongside Engineering and Operations to support new and existing products.

·        Support New Product Development (NPD) and manufacturing readiness.

·        Support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) efforts and provide manufacturing feedback throughout product development.

·        Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts.

·        Develop, prove out, document, and improve CNC machining processes.

·        Support Okuma, Haas, and Eurotech CNC equipment, including mills, lathes, and multi-axis turning equipment.

·        Support CNC programming, machine setup, tooling selection, feeds and speeds, and process optimization.

·        Design, develop, and manufacture fixtures, tooling, and workholding.

·        Modify and improve existing fixtures and manufacturing tooling.

·        Use SOLIDWORKS to develop components, fixtures, tooling, and manufacturing solutions.

·        Create and revise engineering and manufacturing drawings.

·        Interpret and apply GD&T.

·        Troubleshoot machining, tooling, dimensional, and manufacturing issues directly on the production floor.

·        Develop standardized manufacturing processes, work instructions, setup documentation, and supporting documentation.

·        Train technicians and CNC operators on established manufacturing processes and equipment operation.

·        Provide hands-on support during process implementation and ensure technicians can independently perform established operations.

·        Support prototype builds, testing, and development activities.

·        Transition new components and processes from development into repeatable production.

·        Support cycle-time reduction, process optimization, waste reduction, and manufacturing efficiency.

·        Assist with dimensional inspection, process validation, and root-cause problem solving.

Education & Experience

Candidates should meet one of the following combinations of education and experience:

·        Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline with 1-3 years of relevant manufacturing or machining experience.

·        Associate's degree in Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, CNC Machining, Machining Technology, or a related technical discipline with 3-5 years of relevant manufacturing or machining experience.

·        5 years of professional CNC machining, programming, manufacturing, or related technical experience with demonstrated technical knowledge and capability.

Technical Qualifications

·        Experience with or exposure to Okuma, Haas, and/or Eurotech CNC equipment.

·        Experience working with CNC mills, lathes, and multi-axis turning equipment.

·        Working knowledge of SOLIDWORKS.

·        Ability to create and revise engineering and manufacturing drawings.

·        Understanding and practical application of GD&T.

·        Ability to design and manufacture fixtures, tooling, and workholding.

·        Understanding of DFM principles.

·        Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.

·        Understanding of machining fundamentals, cutting tools, feeds and speeds, and workholding.

·        Ability to troubleshoot machining and manufacturing problems.

·        Ability to develop clear manufacturing instructions and train technicians and operators.

·        Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem-solving ability.

·        Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Experience

·        CNC programming and/or CAM experience.

·        Okuma, Haas, and Eurotech controls or equipment.

·        Fixture and workholding design and fabrication.

·        Precision machining.

·        Lean Manufacturing methodologies.

·        Firearm or firearm-component manufacturing.

·        Dimensional inspection equipment and methods.

·        New Product Development (NPD).

·        Root-cause analysis and process improvement.

·        Developing standardized work and training production personnel.

·        Transitioning products from development into production.

Ideal Candidate

This is not a desk-only engineering position. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working with the Engineering team in SOLIDWORKS and working hands-on with the Operations team on the manufacturing floor.

The successful candidate should be capable of taking a manufacturing challenge from concept through implementation: evaluating the design for manufacturability, developing the process, designing and manufacturing the necessary fixturing, creating drawings and documentation, proving out the process on the equipment, optimizing it, and training technicians to successfully run the operation in production.

The goal of the Applications Engineer is to develop, validate, document, and transfer reliable manufacturing processes to Operations, then move forward to solving the next manufacturing challenge.