Union Manufacturing Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Job Description

This role focuses on leading manufacturing engineering activities for aerospace components, specifically integrally bladed rotors and turbine disks for military programs. The Manufacturing Engineer develops and optimizes machining processes, ensures producibility of complex models, and supports continuous improvement initiatives in a highly technical, unionized shop environment. This position offers significant exposure to advanced aerospace manufacturing, with strong potential for long-term career growth and advancement.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing development for integrally bladed rotors and turbine disks supporting military aerospace programs.
• Review engineering models for producibility and confirm that all required technical and manufacturing information is complete and accurate.
• Create detailed process maps and operation flow documentation, collaborating with Industrial Engineering to determine machine capacity and constraints based on the defined process flow.
• Identify required fixturing and tooling, submit tool notifications, and create or update comprehensive tool and gage plans.
• Develop staged models in NX (or equivalent software) to support roughing and finishing machining operations.
• Submit NC programming requests and coordinate with programming teams to ensure accurate and efficient CNC programs.
• Create and maintain a characteristics matrix to support Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA).
• Develop, update, and maintain PFMEAs and control plans to ensure robust and controlled manufacturing processes.
• Initiate and develop process plans in the appropriate enterprise systems, ensuring accurate routing and operational detail.
• Lead process tryouts once fixtures, tools, and raw materials are available, validating process capability and making necessary adjustments.
• Drive process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives within the machining environment to enhance quality, throughput, and cost effectiveness.
• Support machining and assembly operations by troubleshooting manufacturing issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including Industrial Engineering, NC programming, and production, to ensure smooth introduction of new products and processes.
• Contribute to project management activities related to aerospace manufacturing projects, ensuring deliverables meet technical and schedule requirements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).
• At least 5 years of experience working in a conventional machining environment.
• Proficiency with NX or equivalent CAD/CAM software for manufacturing applications.
• Strong manufacturing engineering experience, including process development and optimization.
• Experience in process engineering and process improvement within a production environment.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Background in aerospace manufacturing, particularly with machined components.
• Experience with machining operations and related tooling and fixturing.
• Ability to develop and interpret PFMEA and control plans.
• Strong skills in continuous improvement and implementation of manufacturing best practices.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with aerospace components such as fan rotors, turbine disks, and titanium machining is preferred.
• Experience with NX tool design is beneficial.
• Project management experience in a manufacturing or aerospace environment is a plus.
• Background in assembly processes within aerospace manufacturing is advantageous.
• Experience with SAP or similar enterprise resource planning systems is nice to have.
• Demonstrated experience in continuous improvement methodologies within an aerospace or machining environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a unionized manufacturing setting and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Work Environment

This position is based in a union shop environment with a strong focus on aerospace manufacturing. The role is highly hands-on, with approximately 90% of the time spent on the shop floor and 10% at a desk. The workplace follows a business casual dress code. The schedule offers flexible start and stop times, with core hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The organization is recognized as a leading engineering employer in the region and provides significant opportunities for career advancement and potential transition to full-time employment. During the contract portion, the role offers paid time off, including one week of PTO, one week of sick time, and six paid holidays. The environment emphasizes advanced machining technologies, aerospace components, and collaboration across engineering and production teams.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Middletown, CT.

The pay range for this position is $78.06 - $89.66/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Middletown,CT.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 28, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.