Engineer, Methods & Material

Take Your Aviation Engineering Expertise from Concept to Production

Location: Wichita, KS, Defense Facility

Schedule: Fully Onsite

Overtime: May be available based on business needs

Company: PDS Tech Commercial, partnering with a leader in the aviation industry

Pay Rate: $64.64

Are you an experienced aviation engineering professional who knows how to turn complex designs into practical, efficient manufacturing solutions? PDS Tech Commercial is hiring an Engineer, Methods & Material to join our aviation client's defense operations in Wichita, KS.

In this role, you'll combine your expertise in tool design, CATIA, manufacturing methods, material planning, and aircraft systems to develop innovative solutions that improve how aircraft components are fabricated and assembled. We're looking for a creative problem solver who can think outside the box, collaborate with design and manufacturing teams, and help drive projects from concept through implementation.

If you're ready to put your technical expertise to work on challenging aviation programs, this could be the opportunity for you.

What You'll Do

As an Engineer, Methods & Material, you'll play a key role in developing and improving manufacturing processes while supporting critical aircraft programs. Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Define the most efficient methods for fabricating and assembling components to meet kit requirements.
  
• Develop concepts that support interchangeability and part replacement requirements.
  
• Evaluate the need for new manufacturing equipment and support its implementation.
  
• Collaborate with design and methods teams using CATIA to develop practical manufacturing and tooling solutions.
  
• Work with and interpret both 2D and 3D engineering drawings and models.
  
• Support process improvement initiatives by monitoring evolving industry certification standards, practices, and manufacturing methods.
  
• Incorporate new technologies and advancements into departmental processes and procedures.
  
• Monitor project workflows and adjust personnel assignments to support changing project demands.
  
• Provide technical training, guidance, and assistance to department personnel.
  
• Ensure departmental and company policies are incorporated into new document releases.
  
• Initiate and lead program reviews, cost-reduction initiatives, system modifications, and data-management activities.
  
• Serve as the Methods/Material focal point for ROM bids supporting proposed projects and programs.
  
• Develop effective solutions to technical and business-related challenges of moderate scope and complexity.
  
• Participate in interdepartmental and cross-functional teams supporting special projects and organizational objectives.
  

Required Qualifications

To thrive in this role, you should bring:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in Methods, Material Planning, tool design, manufacturing engineering, or a closely related field.
  
• Demonstrated tool design experience, including collaboration with both design and methods teams.
  
• Strong working knowledge of CATIA V4 and/or V5, including modeling and analysis.
  
• Experience interpreting and working with 2D and 3D drawings/models.
  
• Thorough knowledge of aircraft systems, aircraft parts, and installation locations.
  
• Strong understanding of technical principles and theories related to manufacturing fundamentals.
  
• Thorough knowledge of MRP principles and supply chain management.
  
• Knowledge of CAS, SAP, MACPAC, and OSDB databases.
  
• Basic project management skills with the ability to contribute effectively to cross-functional teams and special projects.
  
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to think outside the box when developing engineering and manufacturing solutions.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• University degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline preferred.
  
• College-level education combined with appropriate relevant experience may also be considered.
  
• Previous experience supporting aviation, aerospace, or defense manufacturing environments.
  
• Experience identifying opportunities for cost reduction and manufacturing process improvement.
  
• Ability to provide technical guidance and training to other team members.
  

Why Join Us?

At PDS Tech Commercial, we connect talented professionals with opportunities to contribute to some of the aviation industry's most exciting and technically challenging programs.

In this position, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Make a direct impact: Your ideas will help shape how aircraft components are fabricated, assembled, and supported.
  
• Solve meaningful engineering challenges: Combine creativity with technical expertise to develop practical manufacturing solutions.
  
• Work with advanced aviation technology: Apply your CATIA, tooling, manufacturing, and aircraft systems knowledge in a fast-paced defense environment.
  
• Collaborate with experienced professionals: Work alongside engineering, design, methods, materials, and manufacturing teams.
  
• Develop your career: This is a contract-to-hire opportunity, offering the potential to build a long-term future within the organization.
  
• Earn additional hours when available: Overtime may be offered based on workload and business needs.
  

For candidates local to the Wichita, KS area, an onsite interview is preferred.

Ready to Engineer a Smarter Way to Build?

If you have 5+ years of relevant aviation manufacturing, methods, material planning, or tool design experience and you're ready to bring your CATIA expertise and creative problem-solving skills to a challenging aviation environment, we want to hear from you.

Apply today through PDS Tech Commercial and take the next step in your aviation engineering career.

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