Full-Time

Lead Engineer

Additive Manufacturing

Updated on 9/4/2026

Quest Defense

Quest Defense

201-500 employees

Develops aerospace and defense engineering solutions

Compensation Overview

$108k - $120k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

West Palm Beach, FL, USA + 1 more

More locations: East Hartford, CT, USA

In Person

The role is 100% on-site. Occasional visits to customer locations require personal transportation.

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's

Category
Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1)
Required Skills
CAD
Siemens Teamcenter

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Requirements
  • Possess 5-12 years of hands-on experience in additive manufacturing and engineering of gas turbine components, with aerospace experience strongly preferred.
  • Exhibit expertise in manufacturability across hot structures, turbine frames, combustors, exhausts, or compressor cases, including manufacturing requirements, alloys, durability properties, processes, production capabilities, limitations, and Material Review Board procedures.
  • Hold at least a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from a recognized and accredited university.
  • Demonstrate a track record of meeting deadlines, thriving under time constraints, and maintaining composure while handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Possess or be willing to obtain a Department of Defense Secret/Collateral clearance.
  • Work primarily in an office environment with occasional shop-floor involvement.
  • Perform substantial telephone and computer work in heavily regulated industries with strict adherence to procedures.
  • Be flexible to meet business deadlines by staying late or arriving early.
  • Work typical eight-hour days, 40-hour weeks, and core required hours from 9 AM to 4 PM.
  • Use personal transportation to visit customer locations.
Responsibilities
  • Own a selected, diverse array of small gas turbine components from design through delivered hardware, ensuring their integrity and performance.
  • Rapidly iterate designs while closing the loop of design, build, and test by feeding learnings back into engineering at each stage.
  • Lead rapid build cycles such as print, machine, inspect, build, and learn while shortening timelines through iteration.
  • Select and manage non-traditional suppliers across additive manufacturing and post-processes including machining, surface finishing, coatings, and inspection, balancing cost, speed, and quality.
  • Set the standard of urgency while partnering with design, analysis, test, and manufacturing teams to deliver flight-worthy hardware.
  • Use engineering experience and understanding to address complex challenges arising from work outside traditional aerospace timelines and constraints.
Desired Qualifications
  • Aerospace experience in additive manufacturing and gas turbine component engineering.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with computer-aided design tools such as Siemens NX and Teamcenter for product lifecycle management.
  • Interpret technical drawings with a sound understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
  • Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills for effective interaction across organizational levels.

Quest Defense Systems and Solutions engineers aerospace and defense capabilities and builds systems that address mission-critical challenges to keep people safe and advance defense technology. Its products include next-generation aerospace solutions and integrated defense systems designed to perform under high-stakes conditions. The company differentiates itself through more than 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering experience, a track record of delivering high-quality, transformative solutions, and a commitment to partnering with customers to solve the world’s hardest engineering problems. Its goal is to be the most trusted partner for the most challenging engineering problems, guiding the industry and driving meaningful change in aerospace and defense.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Cincinnati, Ohio

Founded

N/A

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Quest Defense planned 150 new jobs and $12 million payroll through 2027.
  • ISG 2025 and 2026 recognition strengthens credibility with aerospace and defense buyers.
  • UC co-op partnerships improve hiring, retention, and local engineering pipeline quality.

What critics are saying

  • Quest Defense depends on defense primes and procurement cycles, exposing it to program delays.
  • No clear contract wins or federal awards surfaced, limiting visibility into near-term revenue.
  • If Quest Global shifts priorities, Quest Defense loses strategic support and talent investment.

What makes Quest Defense unique

  • Quest Defense, founded in 2021, targets U.S. aerospace and defense engineering.
  • Blue Ash and Cincinnati anchor its U.S. footprint, plus UC's 1819 Innovation Hub.
  • Quest Global's EXB Solutions acquisition deepens Quest Defense's software and mission-critical engineering bench.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Professional Development Budget

Flexible Work Hours