About this opportunity
Firecrest Aerospace Inc. lists this Propulsion Engineering Manager opportunity in stevens point, Wisconsin. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Company Overview
Firecrest Aerospace is a U.S. aerospace propulsion company headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, with manufacturing operations being established in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. As a subsidiary of CSE USA, Inc., a member of CSG Group, Firecrest develops and manufactures advanced micro turbojet and turbofan engines for defense, aerospace, and other high-performance applications, supporting U.S. government, allied, and commercial customers.
Please read the information in this job post thoroughly to understand exactly what is expected of potential candidates.
The company is investing approximately $15 million to establish its initial U.S. manufacturing facility in Stevens Point, where it expects to create approximately 125 high-skilled manufacturing, engineering, and technical positions. As Firecrest expands from engine assembly, integration, and testing into full-scale manufacturing, engineering, and advanced product development, it is helping strengthen the U.S. aerospace and defense industrial base while advancing next-generation propulsion technologies.
At Firecrest Aerospace, you will have the opportunity to work alongside a growing team committed to engineering excellence, innovation, and mission success. Whether your expertise is in manufacturing, engineering, quality, operations, or business functions, you will play a direct role in building advanced propulsion systems that support critical national security and aerospace missions.
Position Summary
The Propulsion Engineering Manager is responsible for establishing and scaling engineering support for a small turbine engine assembly and test facility. This role begins as an individual contributor reporting to a remote VP of Operations, working in close coordination with the Operations Manager and Quality Manager to stand up the technical and process foundation of the site.
In Phase 1, the Engineering Manager will work in tight coordination with the Quality Manager and Operations Manager operate hands-on, resolving design-for-manufacturing gaps, stabilizing inherited product definitions, and supporting early builds.
As the organization transitions into production (Phases 2 and 3), the role evolves into a leadership position reporting to the on-site Plant Manager, leading a small team of manufacturing and propulsion engineers.
This role is central to enabling production scale from New Product Introduction (NPI) through full-rate production by systematically eliminating variability, resolving failure modes, and improving first pass yield prior to increasing throughput and takt time.
Organizational Scaling & Engineering Ownership
Phase 1: Site Startup & NPI (Individual Contributor reporting to VP of Propulsion Operations)
Stabilize Product & Process Definition
Partner with Operations and Quality to co-develop foundational assembly and test processes
Analyze and “wring out” variability from inherited technical data, including:
Drawings and specifications from external/legacy sources
Assembly procedures and work instructions
Test procedures and acceptance criteria
Identify gaps in tolerances, stack-ups, and unclear requirements impacting build consistency
Establish initial variation management strategy, including:
Critical-to-quality (CTQ) identification
Early tolerance analysis and risk assessment
Support early engine builds, troubleshooting issues in:
Assembly processes
In-process testing
Rotor balancing and mechanical integrity
Final acceptance test anomalies
Begin development of fault trees for known and emerging failure modes
Participate in and help facilitate:
Design FMEAs (DFMEA) with design authority
Process FMEAs (PFMEA) with Operations
Support structured problem-solving using 8D Problem Solving when appropriate
Support Operations’ technician training on assembly/test intent, procedures, and known failure modes
Phase 2: NPI → Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) (Functional Manager reporting to Plant Manager)
Improve First Pass Yield (FPY)
Hire and lead:
One Manufacturing Engineer
One Propulsion Engineer
Mature and deploy variation management processes established in Phase 1:
Refine tolerances and reduce ambiguity in drawings and specs
Standardize and validate assembly and test procedures
Align engineering outputs with quality control plans and inspection methods
Lead technical troubleshooting to eliminate repeat failure modes across:
Assembly defects
In-process test failures
Balancing issues
Final acceptance test failures
Expand and formalize fault tree analysis as a standard diagnostic tool
Drive FPY improvement through:
Root cause identification and elimination
Close linkage with PFMEA and control plans
Structured RCCA using 8D Problem Solving where warranted
Train and certify technicians on:
Updated assembly and test procedures
Failure mode recognition and escalation paths
Collaborate closely with:
Operations to stabilize workflows and reduce variability
Quality to ensure alignment between engineering intent, inspection, and acceptance criteria
Phase 3: LRIP → Full-Rate Production (FRP) (Functional Manager reporting to Plant Manager)
Enable Throughput & Takt Time Improvement (After FPY Stabilization)
Hire and lead:
Second Manufacturing Engineer
Second Propulsion Engineer
Transition focus from defect reduction to process capability and throughput optimization
Further reduce variation to enable predictable, repeatable cycle times
Support operations in line balancing and bottleneck reduction through:
Process improvements
Tooling and fixture optimization
Test system efficiency improvements
Enhance fault tree models using production data for faster troubleshooting
Ensure engineering documentation is fully controlled, stable, and production-ready
Continue training and upskilling workforce as processes evolve
Partner with Quality to ensure FMEAs and control plans reflect real production conditions
Support scaling of test infrastructure and performance consistency
Key Responsibilities (Across All Phases)
Own engineering support for assembly and test operations
Lead troubleshooting of technical issues across the production lifecycle
Develop and maintain fault trees for critical failure modes
Drive variation reduction in product definition and manufacturing processes
Participate in DFMEA and PFMEA development and maintenance
Lead and support structured problem solving and RCCA efforts
Train technicians on procedures, failure modes, and engineering intent
Develop and lead the engineering team
Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations and Quality
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
7+ years of experience in propulsion systems, aerospace manufacturing, turbine engine assembly, balancing, and test
Experience with legacy product transfer or inherited designs
Demonstrated experience transitioning products from NPI to production with a background in startup manufacturing
Strong troubleshooting skills in mechanical systems, assembly, and testing
Experience with tolerance analysis and variation reduction
Familiarity with FMEA and structured problem-solving methodologies
Familiarity with 8D Problem Solving and RCCA processes
Six Sigma or equivalent analytical training
Key Competencies
Strong systems thinking and root cause analysis capability
Ability to translate design intent into robust production processes
Hands-on, solution-oriented mindset
Cross-functional collaboration and influence
Ability to scale engineering support alongside production growth
Work Environment
On-site role within a turbine engine assembly and test facility
Significant time spent on the production floor and in test environments
Exposure to mechanical systems, rotating equipment, and test operations
Why This Role Matters
This role ensures that engineering rigor translates into production reality. By eliminating variability, resolving failure modes, and enabling stable, repeatable processes, the Engineering Manager is a key driver of first pass yield, throughput, and overall production success as the facility scales from initial builds to full-rate manufacturing.
What We Offer
Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives.
Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with company contribution.
Paid time off including vacation, personal days, and company holidays. xhqgsiq
Professional development and training opportunities.
Entrepreneurial, collaborative, and mission-driven work environment
Worksite address
stevens point, WI, 54481, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.