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Quest Defense

Quest Defense

Develops aerospace and defense engineering solutions

Manufacturing Engineer - CNC Programming & Floor Support

Full-Time
$65 - $70/hr
Senior
Bachelor's
Tucson, AZ, USA
In Person

100% on-site in Tucson, Arizona.

No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
  • Five years of relevant experience supporting CNC machining operations within a manufacturing environment and programming CNC mills and/or CNC lathes using computer-aided manufacturing software.
  • Experience with multi-axis machining involving 3-, 4-, or 5-axis equipment.
  • Experience with live tooling lathes, cutting tool selection, fixture design, and machining process optimization.
  • Experience proving out new CNC programs on production equipment.
  • Strong understanding of machining processes and manufacturing methods.
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
  • Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • All candidates must be United States citizens.
  • The candidate must be able to obtain a security clearance unless otherwise stated.
Responsibilities
  • Develop, modify, and optimize CNC programs for 3-, 4-, and 5-axis mills and CNC lathes using computer-aided manufacturing software.
  • Validate new CNC programs through first-piece prove-outs and optimize machining processes for quality, efficiency, and throughput.
  • Provide day-to-day manufacturing engineering support by troubleshooting machining and production issues.
  • Partner with machinists to improve manufacturing processes, implement best practices, and provide technical guidance and training.
  • Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, work instructions, and machining standards.
  • Support new product introductions by creating manufacturing processes, tooling concepts, and cycle time estimates.
  • Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to improve productivity, reduce waste, and lower manufacturing costs.
  • Evaluate new equipment and tooling, including supporting return-on-investment analyses for capital investments.
  • Collaborate with engineering, quality, purchasing, suppliers, and production teams to resolve technical issues and improve manufacturability.
  • Promote a safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing environment while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience supporting aerospace or other precision manufacturing environments.
  • Experience using computer-aided manufacturing software such as Mastercam, NX CAM, Fusion 360, Esprit, GibbsCAM, or similar.
  • Experience applying Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Experience supporting new product introduction.
  • Experience developing manufacturing work instructions and process documentation.
  • Experience performing return-on-investment analyses for manufacturing equipment.
  • Experience estimating machining cycle times and tooling requirements.
  • Knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing and precision machining practices.
  • Experience training or mentoring CNC machinists.

About the company

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