Full-Time
Laser Scribe Process Mechanic
Spirit AeroSystems
10,001+ employees
Manufactures aerostructures for airplanes
Compensation Overview
$20.50 - $39.32/hr
Wichita, KS, USA
In Person
All shifts, including alternative work weeks, may be required.
 Manufacturing & Production Operations (1) |
|---|
Get referred to Spirit AeroSystems
See people who can refer or advise you
- At least 3 years of hands-on CNC setup, operation, calibration, troubleshooting, and precision inspection experience.
- Experience with Numerical Control.
- Experience with X, Y, and Z axis adjustments.
- Experience interpreting blueprints and drawings.
- Willingness and ability to work any shift, including 10-hour shifts and alternative work weeks.
- Ability to maintain required certifications, licenses, permits, and qualifications as needed, including SLS, BAC, Nadcap, AS9100, crane, sealer, liquid nitrogen, and vehicle operations qualifications.
- Ability to comply with applicable FOD, hazardous materials, OSHA, and quality management system processes.
- Successful completion of required post-offer drug and alcohol testing when policy criteria are met.
- Set up, support, and produce high-quality products in a productive manufacturing environment.
- Plan, check, and establish the sequence of work from fabrication through quality-control requirements.
- Perform multitasking and operate multiple machines.
- Set up, operate, and calibrate CNC machine equipment.
- Use hand tools, power tools, air tools, scanners, computers, and other required equipment to prioritize, complete, and process work assignments.
- Perform pickup, touchup, rework, part marking, and incorporation of product changes as required.
- Use precision measuring equipment, including calipers and scales, to perform self-inspection of in-process and finished work.
- Complete Factory Data Acquisition according to work instructions.
- Perform routine minor machine maintenance, including replacing machine filters and maintaining lubrication and coolant levels as part of basic Total Preventive Maintenance duties.
- Read and interpret blueprints, sketches, technique sheets, work orders, and other documentation required to complete operations according to engineering requirements.
- Move products within the shop-defined area and complete transactions needed to move products to the next operation.
- Verify part dimensions using mechanical and electronic precision measurement tools.
- Perform inspection MVP, including first-part review, of fabricated parts and assemblies.
- Initiate and document nonconforming conditions.
- Prepare and maintain treating solutions used in anodic, Dow Metal, Airok, and other processing tanks.
- Add specified chemical compounds in the proper sequence and amounts to achieve the required solution strength according to laboratory requirements.
- Segregate and allocate materials according to treating requirements and shop practices.
- Operate process-tank equipment to selectively remove metal or prepare surfaces for painting while meeting engineering specifications for part dimensions, weight, and contour, including single-step, multistep, and tapered processes.
- Polish skins of mechanically fastened aircraft assemblies, CAD plate parts, materials, and tools to exact tolerances.
- Develop proper setups for operations where processing time, voltage, amperage, and block-offs are not standardized.
- Support continuous product flow by training and assisting employees at the same or lower classification level.
Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds major aerostructures like fuselages and wings for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business jets. It manufactures these large aircraft skeletons and components to be integrated with parts from other suppliers by customers such as Boeing and Airbus. It differentiates itself by being a large independent aerostructures supplier spun out from Boeing, with scale and exposure to defense and aftermarket services, though its business is closely tied to Boeing’s programs. Its goal is to maintain a stable end-to-end supply of aerostructures, expand defense and aftermarket businesses, and ensure reliable production across key programs.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Post IPO Equity
Headquarters
Wichita, Kansas
Founded
2005
Get referred to Spirit AeroSystems
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Boeing’s December 2025 acquisition removed Spirit’s biggest customer dependency overnight.
- FTC finalized the consent order on February 17, 2026, clearing antitrust uncertainty.
- DRB-HICOM completed the Subang transfer, showing asset sales are converting operations into cash.
What critics are saying
- Boeing closed Spirit on December 8, 2025, ending standalone operations.
- Spirit announced Wichita reductions on June 2, 2026 after commercial delivery slowdowns.
- Shareholder and quality lawsuits from 2024 still shadow Spirit’s surviving liabilities and hiring brand.
What makes Spirit AeroSystems unique
- Spirit built Boeing 737 fuselages in Wichita since 2005.
- Spirit supplied Airbus A220 wings and mid-fuselage before the December 2025 breakup.
- Spirit’s manufacturing scale tied together complex aerostructures across Boeing, Airbus, and defense programs.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 0%Boeing may be building the ecosystem for its next commercial aircraft. Former Spirit AeroSystems engineering and technology chief Sean Black will lead development of the manufacturer's future production system, according to report September 10, 2026 10:05 Boeing has begun laying some of the industrial foundations for its next commercial aircraft, even as the company remains years away from formally launching a new single-aisle program. Sean Black, who has led Boeing's Wichita operations since the reintegration of major parts of Spirit AeroSystems, has been selected to lead development of the company's future production system, according to The Air Current. The outlet reported that the role will be critical as Boeing prepares the groundwork for an all-new single-aisle aircraft. Boeing has not announced such a program or disclosed when it intends to make a decision on its next commercial aircraft. Black's background makes the appointment particularly notable. Before Boeing reacquired major Spirit operations, he served as Spirit AeroSystems' chief technology officer and senior vice president of engineering, research and technology. He subsequently took responsibility for the Wichita operation as it returned to Boeing. His new assignment suggests that work surrounding Boeing's next aircraft is extending beyond studies of aerodynamics, propulsion and configuration to another fundamental question: how an all-new airplane would actually be produced. Breaking with 737 legacy. That issue carries particular significance for Boeing. The company's last major decision on a new single-aisle aircraft came in 2011, when it chose to re-engine the 737 rather than proceed with a clean-sheet design in response to the Airbus A320neo. The decision produced the 737 MAX, extending an aircraft architecture whose origins date to the 737-100, which first flew in 1967. Although successive generations introduced major changes in engines, avionics, wings and systems, the basic configuration imposed constraints on how far the design could evolve. Boeing will eventually face a different decision. Rather than finding another way to extend the 737, the manufacturer is expected at some point to develop a new aircraft to address the market currently served by the MAX and potentially compete further into the larger end of the single-aisle segment. No configuration has been selected publicly, and Boeing has not said that its next commercial aircraft will be a direct one-for-one replacement for the 737 MAX. The eventual design could cover a different range of sizes and missions from today's family. The competitive environment has also changed substantially since Boeing selected the MAX. Airbus has expanded the upper end of its single-aisle offering with the A321neo and its longer-range derivatives, while Boeing's largest version, the 737 MAX 10, has yet to complete certification. Production becomes part of aircraft development. Preparing a new production system early could allow Boeing to make a break with its recent past. A clean-sheet aircraft provides an opportunity not only to introduce a new airframe and propulsion system, but also to reconsider how structures are designed, assembled and moved through factories. Boeing has experimented with digital engineering and new manufacturing methods on other programs, including the T-7A Red Hawk trainer. Lessons from those projects could influence how the company approaches a future commercial production system, although Boeing has not disclosed which technologies would be adopted for its next airliner. Black arrives at the assignment with direct experience of another important part of that industrial equation. Spirit's Wichita operation produces major Boeing structures, including 737 fuselages, and its reintegration gives Boeing direct control over manufacturing activities that had been separated from the company for two decades. Boeing has also committed US$1 billion to its Wichita operations over three years, covering facilities, equipment, training and production capabilities. Addressing manufacturing early could allow Boeing to develop the aircraft and its production system in parallel, rather than treating production primarily as a later stage of the program. Decision still ahead. Boeing is still concentrating on its existing commercial programs, higher production rates and certification of the 737 MAX 10. The company expects FAA approval in the coming months, which would allow it to turn its attention to the huge backlog accumulated for the variant. Meanwhile, CEO Kelly Ortberg has said the company needs further technological progress, particularly in propulsion, before it commits to a new commercial aircraft. Ricardo meier. Journalist covering the aerospace industry for over 20 years, with a focus on data and long-term industry trends.
The order and the backlog. Airbus revealed the deal in its monthly orders and deliveries update, and it was first reported by FlightGlobal. Airbus did not identify the buyer, a common arrangement for freighter deals, where lessors and cargo carriers often ask to stay anonymous until closer to delivery. The A350F backlog now stands at 115 firm orders. Named customers over the program's life have included Atlas Air, the largest with about 20 aircraft, along with Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Silk Way West and the freight arms of CMA CGM and Air France-KLM. Some early commitments have since been trimmed or restructured as the schedule slipped. A new order for an untested aircraft carries some signal of confidence, though an undisclosed buyer limits how much can be read into it. Airbus has repeatedly said freighter demand remains firm despite the delays. A late first flight. Airbus launched the A350F in 2021 and once aimed to fly it in 2025. Supply chain problems, most visibly at the Spirit AeroSystems plant that builds the A350's center fuselage, pushed the schedule back by roughly two years. The first of two flight-test aircraft rolled out of the Toulouse final assembly line in August in a special parcel-carton livery. Airbus is aiming for a first flight around September 24, though it has said the date could slip into October. Certification and the first delivery are planned for the second half of 2027. Why airlines are waiting for it. The A350F is a twin-engine freighter derived from the A350 widebody. Airbus lists a payload of up to about 111 tonnes (245,000 lb) and a range near 4,700 nautical miles, and says it burns around 20 percent less fuel per trip than the Boeing 777F it is meant to replace. Timing matters as much as fuel burn. A tighter ICAO carbon dioxide standard takes effect for newly built aircraft in 2028, and the current 777F does not meet it, so Boeing plans to end its production. Boeing's replacement, the larger 777-8F, is not expected to enter service until later in the decade. That gap is the core of the A350F's sales case. Air cargo demand has held up, much of the world freighter fleet is built on aging 747s, 767s and MD-11s, and for a stretch of years the A350F may be the only new aircraft in its size class that an airline can order without an emissions problem waiting on delivery. The date is still a target Airbus has moved the A350F schedule several times since 2021. A late-September first flight leaves little margin before year-end, and the second-half-2027 delivery goal depends on a certification campaign the company itself calls very dense. Airbus is separately running behind on its 2026 delivery target, a reminder that firm orders and a full backlog do not by themselves keep a program on schedule. The latest aviation news and stories sent to your inbox. Tim is the owner and lead editor of AeroCorner since 2019, overseeing aviation content covering aircraft, airlines, airports, and the broader aviation industry. Through years of researching, writing, editing, and publishing aviation-focused content, he has developed extensive practical knowledge of commercial aviation and air travel. Based in Asia and a frequent traveler himself, Tim also brings firsthand passenger experience to AeroCorner's coverage. Outside of publishing, he has also explored aviation firsthand through hands-on flight training in New Zealand.
GEFERTEC launches arcTitan, a Sealed-Chamber WAAM System Built for Titanium. Berlin-based company GEFERTEC has launched arcTitan, a wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system built specifically for titanium processing, combining a fully enclosed inert gas atmosphere with a plasma-based deposition process. The company says the system achieves stable, reproducible process control by holding oxygen levels inside the build chamber to between 10 and 15 parts per million throughout the entire build. Purpose-built for a difficult material Titanium's high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance make it a preferred material for aerospace and energy applications, but its sensitivity to atmospheric contamination during processing has long complicated additive workflows. GEFERTEC's answer is a sealed build chamber flooded with shielding gas, removing the need for external enclosures or auxiliary gas systems, paired with a plasma-based arc process the company says allows tighter control over heat input and more consistent part quality. "The greatest challenge in the additive manufacturing of titanium is ensuring reproducible process conditions," said Johannes Zuckschwerdt, GEFERTEC's managing director. "With the arcTitan, we have therefore developed a system in which the build chamber, welding process and peripheral equipment have all been designed specifically for this material." GEFERTEC says every relevant subsystem, from gas management and sensor technology to wire feeding and parameter control, was engineered around titanium's specific requirements rather than adapted from a general-purpose machine. The arcTitan offers a 2 x 0.7 x 1 meter build envelope and a maximum deposition rate of 3 kg per hour, and GEFERTEC describes the system as modular, allowing configurations to be tailored to individual end users. GEFERTEC positions arcTitan as being of particular interest to aerospace and energy companies, two sectors where titanium's weight and corrosion advantages are most commercially valuable and where certification standards make repeatable process conditions especially important. Part of a four-machine WAAM family GEFERTEC positions arcTitan as one tier in a broader machine lineup rather than a one-off product. The company's current range spans four systems: the arc10X, a versatile industrial platform for general WAAM production; the arc80X, built for larger components with build volumes up to 8 m^3; arcTitan, purpose-built specifically for titanium, aluminum, and nickel-based alloys; and arcLab, a smaller, budget-oriented system aimed at research and training environments. All four share a common feature set, including GEFERTEC's 3DMP process monitoring, automated ignition-error correction, and Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control, and the company describes the whole range as CE-certified, scalable, and built to integrate into existing manufacturing workflows. That structure suggests arcTitan isn't a standalone experiment but the reactive-material tier of a segmented product strategy, where customers select a machine based on build size and material rather than buying one general-purpose system and configuring it after the fact. GEFERTEC has not disclosed when arcTitan will be commercially available or which customers, if any, are already testing the system. Specializing the Machine to Win the Material GEFERTEC's strategy with arcTitan is to stop treating titanium as an add-on option box and instead build a standalone system engineered end to end for one material. That matters because titanium's biggest AM adoption barrier is process repeatability under regulatory scrutiny, and aerospace and energy buyers are more likely to qualify a dedicated system than a general machine with a titanium mode. Other WAAM specialists have followed the same logic of narrowing focus to win high-value titanium work. Cranfield University spin-out WAAM3D built its reputation on exactly this kind of material-specific engineering, showcasing a titanium tank for aerospace manufacturer Thales Alenia Space that saved 200 kg of material, cut costs by 65%, and reduced CO2 and energy use by 80% compared with conventional processes. Norsk Titanium took a similar path from the metal-supplier side rather than the machine-builder side: Spirit AeroSystems partnered with Norsk Titanium to produce titanium parts for Boeing aircraft using Rapid Plasma Deposition, a wire-fed DED variant, demonstrating the approach at scale for large aerospace structures. GEFERTEC's bet is that owning the full system, rather than the material expertise alone, is what turns titanium WAAM from a research capability into a qualifiable production process. 3D Printing Industry is inviting speakers for its 2026 Additive Manufacturing Applications (AMA) series, covering Energy, Healthcare, Automotive and Mobility, Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Software. Each online event focuses on real production deployments, qualification, and supply chain integration. Practitioners interested in contributing can complete the call for speakers form here. Explore the full Future of 3D Printing and Executive Survey series from 3D Printing Industry, featuring perspectives from CEOs, engineers, and industry leaders on the industrialization of additive manufacturing, 3D printing industry trends 2026, qualification, supply chains, and additive manufacturing industry analysis. Featured image shows arcTitan, a Sealed-Chamber WAAM System Built for Titanium. Image via GEFERTEC.
Qarbon Aerospace adds aerospace and defense veteran Duane Hawkins to Board of Directors. June 9, 2026 Duane Hawkins Qarbon Aerospace has appointed aerospace and defense industry veteran Duane Hawkins to its Board of Directors, adding more than four decades of leadership experience as the company continues expanding its position in advanced composite aerostructures and assemblies. Hawkins most recently served as President of Defense & Space at Spirit AeroSystems, where he oversaw programs and operations across defense and space markets. His career also includes senior leadership positions at Raytheon Missile Systems and General Dynamics, where he developed expertise in program management, manufacturing engineering, and supply chain operations. The appointment comes as Qarbon Aerospace seeks to strengthen its leadership team and support future growth initiatives across commercial aerospace, defense, and space sectors. "Duane has built an exceptional career across some of the most respected organizations in aerospace and defense," said Michael Canario, Chief Executive Officer of Qarbon Aerospace. "His experience at Spirit AeroSystems, Raytheon, and General Dynamics has given him a deep understanding of this industry that will be invaluable to Qarbon Aerospace." Peter Manos, Managing Partner at Arlington Capital Partners, highlighted Hawkins' extensive industry perspective and experience managing major defense programs. "Duane brings an impeccable reputation and deep expertise across the aerospace and defense sector, with a perspective shaped by decades of leadership at the industry's most prominent organizations," Manos said. "His experience with leading defense programs and technologies brings a viewpoint to Qarbon that will add immediate value as the company continues its growth as a leading independent Tier 1 manufacturer of next-generation defense platforms." Hawkins said his familiarity with Qarbon's products and leadership team made the opportunity particularly appealing. "I am very excited to be part of Qarbon Aerospace," Hawkins said. "I have worked with and received product from Qarbon and its management team for years with impressive results. Qarbon has tremendous potential to expand its current aerospace and defense footprint, and I look forward to assisting in that effort." Qarbon Aerospace manufactures advanced composite components and assemblies used on commercial aircraft, military platforms, and spacecraft. The company operates nearly two million square feet of manufacturing space across facilities in Texas, Georgia, and Thailand, with vertically integrated capabilities ranging from component fabrication to large-scale assembly. The company also develops proprietary thermoplastics technologies and maintains longstanding relationships with major aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) serving commercial, defense, and business aviation markets. With Hawkins joining the board, Qarbon Aerospace continues to strengthen its governance and strategic leadership as it pursues growth opportunities in global aerospace and defense markets.
Cahya Mata Sarawak, AEON Credit, DRB-HICOM, Maxim Global, K Seng Seng, MTT Shipping, Sinaran Advance, Sersol, AWC, Empire Premium Food, U Mobile, Telekom, Uzma. 07 Apr 2026, 11:20 pm KUALA LUMPUR (April 7): Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Tuesday. Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd's (KL:CMSB) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib has filed a lawsuit against the company over being allegedly blocked from board meetings. The lawsuit, which also names 10 other parties, was filed in the High Court on April 2, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia. Mahmud Abu Bekir is seeking judicial declarations and orders concerning his directorship, including confirmation that he is only considered to have a conflict of interest when ongoing legal matters are discussed at board meetings. - Cahya Mata Sarawak deputy chairman Abu Bekir sues company over alleged board meeting exclusion AEON Credit Service (M) Bhd (KL:AEONCR) posted a rise in net profit at 10.2% in the fourth quarter on stronger loan and financing growth, coupled with lower impairment losses on financing receivables. Net profit for the three months ended Feb 28, 2026 (4QFY2026), increased to its highest quarterly profit since 1QFY2023 at RM144.3 million from RM130.97 million a year earlier while revenue rose 9.8% to RM631.46 million from RM575.04 million, according to a bourse filing. The group declared a final dividend of 15.75 sen per share and a special dividend of two sen per share. - AEON Credit declares special dividend as quarterly profit hits three-year high DRB-HICOM Bhd (KL:DRBHCOM), which finalised its takeover of Spirit AeroSystems' Malaysian operations four months ago, announced an additional purchase price adjustment of US$600,563 (RM2.42 million). The group said its wholly-owned aerospace unit, Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd, reached an agreement with the sellers on the post-completion adjustment, lifting the total acquisition cost to US$111.22 million (RM452.21 million) from the US$110.62 million paid at completion on Dec 8, 2025. - DRB-HICOM to pay additional post-acquisition amount for Spirit AeroSystems' Malaysian ops Sim Keng Chor has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of property developer Maxim Global Bhd (KL:MAXIM), according to an exchange filing. Maxim disclosed that Sim's private investment vehicle Sanlens Sdn Bhd, which he shares with his sons, disposed of 32.33 million shares, representing a 4.38% stake, through a direct business transaction on Monday. Based on Maxim's latest annual report, Sim previously held a 6.12% interest in the company via Sanlens. Following the disposal, his shareholding has been reduced to 1.74%, or 12.8 million shares. - Unitrade's vice-chairman Sim Keng Chor ceases to be substantial shareholder of Maxim Global K Seng Seng Corporation Bhd (KL:KSSC) saw Samuel Ng Heng Hong emerge as a substantial shareholder after a block was bought from the company's former executive chairman Datuk Keh Chuan Seng and the Chiau brothers. In a filing, KSSC said Ng's investment vehicle Euro Chain acquired 65 million shares or a 30.1% stake in the group including from the company's largest shareholder Frazel Group Sdn Bhd, owned by Keh and Datin Cheong Kai Meng. - Controlling shareholder of Eurospan emerges as substantial shareholder of K Seng Seng MTT Shipping and Logistics Bhd set its final retail price for its initial public offering (IPO) at RM1.03 apiece. In a bourse filing, its adviser CIMB Investment Bank said this was decided following the completion of the bookbuilding process under the institutional offering on Monday. The retail offering closed on April 3. Main Market-bound MTT Shipping is scheduled for listing on April 21, making it the country's largest logistics-linked IPO in 13 years. - MTT Shipping fixes final IPO retail price at RM1.03 Sinaran Advance Group Bhd (KL:SINARAN) has proposed a plan to reduce its share capital in order to eliminate RM33.6 million in accumulated losses. The ACE Market-listed company reported an issued share capital of RM46.7 million as of March 18. This comprised 1.05 billion ordinary shares and 457.48 million outstanding warrants, exercisable into an equivalent number of new shares at 12 sen each. At the consolidated level, the group had accumulated losses of RM31.86 million as of December 31, 2025. Following the capital reduction, Sinaran Advance will have retained earnings of RM1.62 million. - Sinaran Advance plans RM33.6m share capital reduction to eliminate losses Sersol Bhd (KL:SERSOL) has won a RM15.62 million contract from Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) to supply the latter with hardware and software services. The agreement was signed by its 51%-owned subsidiary, Sersol E-Solutions Sdn Bhd, to supply hardware products and provide a 12-month software subscription to Zetrix AI, along with support services. Sersol E-Solutions's job scope includes maintaining the software, which includes carrying out necessary corrections and repairs to ensure it remains fully operational as per the scope of the contract. - Sersol bags RM15.62m job to supply Zetrix with hardware, software services AWC Bhd (KL:AWC) bags a RM22.18 million contract to undertake plumbing, silo tank and internal sanitary works in a date centre project. In a bourse filing, the group said the contract was awarded by a Malaysia-incorporated joint venture between two private companies involved in civil engineering, construction and project management, which includes large-scale infrastructure and specialised facilities. The joint venture could not be identified due to confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations tied to the project. - AWC wins RM22 mil plumbing works job for data centre project Empire Sushi chain operator Empire Premium Food Bhd saw overwhelming demand for its initial public offering (IPO), with the public portion oversubscribed by 23.3 times ahead of its Main Market debut on April 17. In a filing, the group said its IPO recorded a total subscription rate of 24.3 times, with demand totalling 1.336 billion shares for 55 million new shares made available to the Malaysian public. The Bumiputera portion was oversubscribed by 13.34 times, while the non-Bumiputera portion was oversubscribed by 33.25 times. - Empire Sushi chain owner's IPO shares oversubscribed by 23.3 times U Mobile Sdn Bhd is finalising its collaboration with Telekom Malaysia Bhd (KL:TM), following the signing of a 5G access agreement between both parties in February this year. U Mobile chief technology officer Woon Ooi Yuen said the company has started discussions with TM on the matter and that the companies are working towards implementing the partnership. However, he did not disclose the timeline. - U Mobile says finalising access for TM as it unveils new ULTRA5G network Uzma Bhd (KL:UZMA) has secured a letter of award from EnQuest Petroleum Production Malaysia Ltd to provide well intervention and project management services for two years. The contract is valued at about RM60 million and covers a two-year period. Under the deal, Uzma's unit Setegap Ventures Petroleum Sdn Bhd will be responsible for the provision, supply and maintenance of tools, equipment and accessories and spare parts for well intervention services for the 2026/2027 EnQuest Well Intervention Programme (Package A8). - Uzma bags RM60 mil EnQuest contract for well intervention services Edited By S Kanagaraju