Principal Manufacturing Readiness Lead – Ceramic Matrix Composites (Onsite)

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At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power systems and has been revolutionizing modern flight for over 100 years. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Pratt & Whitney is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead Engineer to drive Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL) for Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) across our organization. The successful candidate will lead efforts to ensure the seamless transition of advanced CMC technologies from research and development to production, enabling the delivery of high-performance aerospace and defense propulsion solutions.

What You Will Do:

• Lead Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) planning, assessment, and execution for CMC technologies, driving manufacturing maturity from concept development through full-rate production
• Coordinate and integrate the work of CMC manufacturing subject matter experts (SMEs) to ensure consistent technical alignment across internal teams and external partners
• Collaborate with design engineering, process engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain to develop robust, scalable, and stable manufacturing processes for CMC components
• Identify manufacturing maturity gaps and develop actionable plans to achieve target readiness levels aligned with program objectives
• Drive continuous improvement in yield, process capability, robustness, and cost efficiency while maintaining compliance with performance requirements and customer specifications
• Lead manufacturing risk identification, mitigation, and closure, including process, equipment, material, and supplier readiness risks
• Develop and validate process flows, PFMEAs, control plans, and production documentation required to support transition into production
• Conduct technical reviews focused on tooling, fixturing, equipment, material handling, and inspection readiness for new and evolving CMC technologies
• Support design-for-manufacturability (DFM) efforts by providing structured manufacturing input to product engineering teams
• Oversee prototype builds, pilot runs, and manufacturing trials to collect data, evaluate process capability, and confirm readiness milestones
• Collaborate closely with suppliers to assess manufacturing maturity, process controls, and adherence to CMC standards and specifications
• Support supplier qualification, audits, corrective action activities, and long-term supplier development for CMC material and component production
• Ensure all CMC processes comply with industry standards, customer requirements, and internal quality and engineering standard work systems
• Prepare and present readiness dashboards, status reports, and risk updates to program and engineering leadership
• Mentor engineers and cross-functional team members on MRL frameworks, CMC manufacturing processes, best practices, and advanced materials technologies

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering from an ABET accredited institution.
• Minimum of 8+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing engineering or related roles or 5+ years with an advanced degree
• Proven experience planning and executing MRL advancement to manage technology transitions from R&D to production.
• Familiarity with quality systems, process control methodologies, and root cause analysis tools (e.g., Six Sigma, PFMEA, etc.).
• U.S. citizenship is required as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Master’s or PhD in Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering from an ABET accredited institution.
• Experience within the aerospace or defense industry, particularly with composites and high-temperature materials.
• Knowledge of CMC manufacturing processes, such as chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), slurry infiltration, and densification techniques.
• Strong project management skills with a track record of delivering on complex, multi-disciplinary technical projects.

What We Offer:

• Benefits
• Relocation Package

Learn More & Apply Now

What is my role type?

In addition to transforming the future of flight, we are also transforming how and where we work. We’ve introduced role types to help you understand how you will operate in our blended work environment.

This position is classified as:

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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