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Aerospace Composites Lead Technician

Manchester, CT

Aerospace is at a turning point — costs are rising, supply chains are strained, and old ways of building can’t keep up. At Neon Aero, we’re breaking that mold. We move fast, think big, and combine start-up agility with aerospace expertise to design, build, and scale aircraft in ways the industry has never seen. Our team leverages automation, AI-driven tools, and a fully connected digital backbone to accelerate innovation and reduce barriers to production.

Here, you won’t just take a job — you’ll help reinvent how the world flies. If you’re ready to solve complex problems, push technology further, and work alongside some of the brightest minds in aerospace, this is your chance to make a real impact.

Build flight-critical composite structures. Lead the cell. Raise the bar.

 

If you love the craft of composites and you’re the person others naturally turn to for answers on the floor, this role is for you. As an Aerospace Composite Technician Lead, you’ll be the technical heartbeat of a production cell—owning daily execution while driving safety, quality, repeatability, and continuous improvement for advanced aerospace composite components.

You’ll work shoulder-to-shoulder with technicians, Engineering, and Quality to ensure every part meets the structural integrity and compliance demands of flight-critical hardware.

Why This Role Matters:

This isn’t just a technician role—it’s a hands-on leadership position where your experience directly impacts flight safety, build quality, and production reliability. You’ll help shape the way work gets done, elevate your team, and ensure the hardware leaving your cell is ready for the demands of aerospace.

You will get to:

  • Lead daily composite fabrication with a relentless focus on safety, quality, schedule, efficiency, and cost control.
  • Prep molds, tools, and work surfaces per work instructions and process specs.
  • Execute and guide the full composite build process: cutting/kitting, layup, molding, deflash, bonding, and assembly—aligned to drawings, ply books, and standards.
  • Perform in-process inspections for workmanship, spec adherence, and FOD prevention.
  • Maintain material traceability and accurate process documentation (because details matter).
  • Train, audit, certify, and mentor composite technicians; maintain training records.
  • Assign daily work, provide technical direction, and remove roadblocks for the team.
  • Serve as the primary technical liaison between Operations, Engineering, and Quality for build issues.
  • Own improvements to work instructions and process standardization—turn “tribal knowledge” into repeatable excellence.
  • Coordinate production status updates and help keep schedules on track.
  • Maintain a clean, organized work cell and support 5S.
  • Step in as acting Supervisor when needed.

What You’ll Bring:

  • Minimum of 4+ years of hands-on aerospace composite manufacturing experience.
  • Proven ability to lead, train, and mentor technicians in a production setting.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, train, audit, and/or certify technicians in a production environment
  • Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, ply layup diagrams, work instructions, and process specifications
  • Strong working knowledge of composite material handling, cutting and kitting, layup, molding, deflash, bonding, and assembly
  • Familiarity with AS9100/ISO9001 quality standards and strong FOD prevention practices
  • Experience using precision measurement tools (scales, calipers, laser projection/alignment systems)
  • Process improvement mindset, including work instruction development and standardization
  • Root cause analysis skills and a hands-on, technical problem-solving approach
  • Clear communication and cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Engineering, and Quality
  • High attention to detail, accountability, and pride in producing quality workmanship
  • Strong safety awareness, operational discipline, and ability to perform in a fast-paced, schedule-driven environment

Work Environment & Requirements

  • Location: Manufacturing floor in an aerospace composite production environment
  • Schedule: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday–Friday (occasional overtime/weekends during deadlines/testing)
  • Travel: Minimal (<10%)
  • Physical: prolonged standing/sitting; lift up to 50 lbs; frequent detailed hand work; exposure to shop materials/chemicals/equipment
  • Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
  • Security: Work may occur in ITAR-regulated or classified environments
  • Tools/Tech: Composite tools, precision measurement equipment, ERP/MES systems, digital work instructions, and Microsoft Excel/Word/PowerPoint

Why Join Us:

  • Work alongside elite engineering talent and innovators across aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
  • Shape solutions that are lower-cost, autonomous, and scalable — the future of aviation.
  • Competitive compensation, growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits including health, vision, dental, 401K, and long-term career advancement.

This pay range is specific to the location where the role is posted. Final pay will depend on experience, skill level, and other job-related factors.

Location-Specific Pay Range

$30 - $31.50 USD

Neon Aero, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

All final candidates must successfully complete a background check and drug screening as a condition of employment.

At this time, Neon Aero and its divisions are not accepting unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies.

 

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