Manufacturing Engineer

About Poseidon Aerospace:

Poseidon Aerospace is reimagining how the world moves goods. We build and operate full-size autonomous cargo aircraft - capable of carrying two tons of payload over a thousand nautical miles. From remote communities to contested logistics operations, our platforms unlock a new cost curve for air freight, making it faster, cheaper, and accessible anywhere it's needed. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with locations in Washington DC, Oregon, and Maine; we're building something consequential.

As a Manufacturing Engineer at Poseidon Aerospace, you will design and machine the tooling that brings our composite aircraft to life. You'll own the complete process from CAD design through CAM programming to running parts on our mills and routers, delivering functional jigs and fixtures on startup timelines. We need someone who thinks with their hands and can rapidly translate design requirements into precision tooling.

Responsibilities:

Design and deliver tooling, jigs, and fixtures for aircraft assembly and fabrication processes

Program and machine custom tooling components using CAM software and CNC equipment

Rapidly prototype manufacturing solutions to support evolving aircraft designs and assembly sequences

Conduct first article inspections and dimensional validation of tooling to ensure design intent is met

Collaborate with design engineers to provide DFM feedback and influence part designs for improved manufacturability

Develop and document assembly procedures, work instructions, and tooling usage guidelines

Troubleshoot and iterate on tooling designs based on real-world assembly feedback from the production floor

Maintain and improve existing tooling as aircraft designs evolve through development cycles

Ideal Qualifications:

Proficiency in CAD software (Fusion, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar) for designing tooling, fixtures, and jigs

Hands-on CAM programming experience and ability to machine own parts on vertical mills and multi-axis CNC equipment

Strong understanding of GD&T and ability to apply proper tolerancing to tooling designs

Knowledge of composite materials and their unique tooling requirements (layup surfaces, cure tooling, trim fixtures)

Experience with metrology equipment (calipers, micrometers, height gauges) and inspection techniques

Understanding of design for manufacturing principles and common composite manufacturing processes (layup, bonding, trimming, drilling)

Self-directed problem solver comfortable working independently while supporting a small, fast-moving team

Ability to balance speed with precision—knowing when "good enough" is appropriate versus when tight tolerances are critical

Nice to have:

Experience with Fusion 360 for integrated CAD/CAM workflow

Hands-on experience with Kitamura machines

Gantry-style CNC router programming and operation

Multi-axis (4th/5th axis) CAM programming experience

Hands-on composite layup or composite trimming experience

Welding experience for fixture fabrication

Experience with FDM for rapid tooling prototypes

What you get from us

Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity

Relocation support if applicable

Employee Health Benefit Plans

6% Retirement matching

Flexible PTO

Free lunches, snacks, and a stocked fridge at our offices

AI tools and subscriptions