The Requirements
To meet the basic qualifications for this role you will have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. To be a good fit for the New Product Development Engineer opportunity, you also should have:- A bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Industrial, Metallurgical, Materials, or Mechanical Engineering; we also will consider other engineering disciplines combined with appropriate work experience.
- At least five years of experience as a Product, Gating, or Process Engineer, and experience with precision parts and tight tolerances.
- Strong computer skills, including 3D CAD modeling (we use Siemens/Unigraphics NX and SolidWorks); you'll also need familiarity with manufacturing, statistical analysis, spreadsheet, word processing, and Internet applications.
- The ability to:
- Evaluate customer part drawings with linear and geometric tolerancing.
- Analyze dimensional layouts of parts.
- Analyze non-destructive testing (NDT) results from trials.
- Understand and utilize statistical and analytical tools / techniques.
- Advanced analytical skills, critical thinking, research ability, and independent judgment. Quick question for you - click here
- Clear and professional communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong writing skills.
- Experience with investment casting, ideally related to aerospace and/or IGT parts.
- Some knowledge of metallurgy.
- Experience in the aerospace industry and an understanding of quality systems.
- Experience with other industrial metal casting processes, machining and/or forging would be an asset for a candidate lacking investment casting experience.
- Experience interacting directly with customers.
The Role
Reporting to the New Product Development Manager, you will join a team that includes one other New Product Development Engineer. This team also collaborates with Dimensional Engineers. We use investment casting to manufacture parts for jet engines and IGTs.Your main goal will be to develop casting processes, which include the gating and writing clear shop floor instructions that ensure a robust process is established within committed time frames. You also will support the dimensional qualification as required by selecting gating and process parameters that provide good dimensional control and assure product is capable to drawing tolerances.
Projects will vary in scope and complexity, and at any given time may have 3 to 12 projects on your plate. In general projects last from 4 to 18 months. Projects will require hands-on contributions out on the shop floor, as you will support process development. You'll also interact directly with customers on a regular basis, including engineers, buyers, and quality professionals.
More specifically, you will:
- Generate weekly status updates and provide general information flow relative to new part startup meetings.
- Develop milestones for process development and use them to follow progress and adjust priorities and activities as needed to qualify parts within original committed time frames.
- Develop cost effective gating and other processes required to produce and control the metallurgical and NDT integrity of each product, assuring it satisfies customer requirements using DOEs and other statistical tools.
- Develop and maintain overall operational sequences for part manufacture in conjunction with Administrative, Dimensional, Quality, and NDT disciplines.
- Develop and maintain IMSs for Wax Assembly, Shell, Mold Prep, Cast, Weld, Heat Treat, HIP, and any other process related operations.
- Work with and train shop floor personnel in regard to understanding instructions, developing work techniques, process improvements, and reduction in executional variation.
- Provide technical support to Sales during part quotations and the review of drawings and specifications. Quick question for you - click here You also will provide customers with input relative to design and part specification criteria, lead times, and producibility improvements.
- Conduct effective customer and supplier communication dealing with metallurgical and other issues related to the product and process. You'll support customer needs with respect to overall product quality, cost reductions and general good will.
- Research new manufacturing techniques and processes focused on reducing costs and improving quality. This will include preparing technical notes and reports dealing with proposed process improvements.
- Adhere to all safety polices, practices and procedures.
Why CPP
Professional development -- whether you are a seasoned investment casting pro or looking for ready to learn something new, you will expand your skills working with experience professionals at an industry leader.All new products, all new challenges -- in some cases we support customers in developing entirely new products, and in other cases we are a second supplier -- but either way, each part is new to us.
Ancient art, modern science -- "investment molding" has its roots in lost wax molding, which dates back thousands of years, making it one of humanity's oldest metallurgical processes. Today CPP combines this time-honored art with leading edge technology, including equiax super alloys, air and vacuum processes, and captive heat-treat facilities.
Stable business model -- if you're not already familiar with aerospace and IGT, you'll be pleased to learn that the two industries tend to follow different cycles; if one dips, the other typically remains strong. In addition, we are in global markets. All of this adds up to ongoing stability at CPP.
Great environment -- while we are not a small business by any means, we are smaller than many in our industry. We run lean and flat, which helps us remain agile and flexible in the market. That also means your ideas will be welcome. Our shop floor is a foundry, and you may get your hands dirty, but on the whole our facilities are clean and well organized.
Excellent compensation -- in addition to a competitive salary and bonus incentive program, we offer comprehensive benefits.
Pictured: Consolidated Precision Products is the largest aerospace-qualified manufacturer capable of producing both investment and sand castings.
Keys to Success
To excel in this role you will complement your engineering skills with creativity and a methodical approach. Some projects will require you to innovate new methods to solve unique problems. Rather than jumping at the first idea that presents itself, you will address the problem systematically, weighing different options. At the same time, you can't let yourself get bogged down in paralysis by analysis; we take deadlines very seriously. You'll also need the interpersonal skills to work directly with customers, clarifying information, providing updates, managing expectations, and more.If you're looking for a role in which you can remain at your computer all day, every day, this probably isn't the position for you. Many of the problems you'll solve will involve manufacturing processes, and there is no better place to solve them than out of the foundry floor. We'll also look to you to develop working relationships with the foundry floor Associates, not only to ensure they are following instructions correctly, but also to get valuable first-hand input.
About Consolidated Precision Products
CPP is uniquely positioned to offer complete market solutions, from product concept to sub-assembly and kitting. Founded in 1991, CPP has grown substantially over the past 20+ years.CPP's extensive and diverse capabilities allow us to service a broad range of markets and industries, building relationships with the leading companies in their respective sectors. We support customers through the full solution development lifecycle, including concept, development, casting, and finishing.
CPP is capable of producing parts from 1 inch up to 8 feet long and handling pour weights from 10 lbs. up to 10,000 lbs. Our capabilities include:
- Sand core production
- CNC and conventional machining
- Solidification modeling
- Tool design & construction
- Rapid Prototyping
- Painting & coating
- Non-destructive testing
- Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) Refining
- Kitting and assembly
- Directionally solidified/single crystal (DS/SC) castings
- Stem drilling
CPP is a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus
Pictured: our 100,000 square-foot foundry in Chittenango, near Syracuse, has capabilities that include pour weight to 500 lbs. and 36" envelope.