Space Systems Fabrication Specialists

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are seeking a highly skilled and meticulous Space Systems Fabrication Specialist with the highest level of competency in industrial sewing to join our dynamic manufacturing team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the precise, complex assembly and specialized fabrication of critical components for aerospace and other high-performance applications, where people's lives rely on high-quality production. This role demands exceptional attention to detail, a strong commitment to quality, and strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards, including the ability to make heavy impactful decisions in a short amount of time.

Principal Duties & Essential Functions:

• Lead and execute the fabrication of intricate aerospace components with diverse industrial sewing machines, achieving zero defects by implementing rigorous precision standards, comprehensive machine maintenance, specialized tooling, advanced operator training, and continuous quality monitoring.
• Perform complex assembly operations, utilizing both industrial sewing machines and expert hand-tool manipulation for intricate fabrication, to meet company standards and rigorous aerospace customer quality requirements.
• Execute intricate assembly procedures, leveraging specialist knowledge in aerospace-grade sewing and sophisticated manual fabrication, essential for achieving zero-defect thresholds due to the life-critical nature of components.
• Calibrate and optimize industrial sewing machine parameters, including precision adjustment of thread tension, selection and application of specialized needle types/sizes, and meticulous regulation of presser foot pressure. This expertise is critical to proactively eliminate complex fabrication anomalies such as skipped stitches, thread entanglement, and material deformation, ensuring aerospace-grade product integrity and zero-defect output.\Perform precision stitching on diverse and challenging technical materials, including advanced synthetic and polymer-based composites, utilizing industrial sewing machines to fabricate specialized components.
• Adhere rigorously to complex work instructions, engineering blueprints, and approved sample standards, exercising aerospace-level precision to consistently meet or exceed stringent quality tolerances.
• Apply advanced aerospace or a related field’s manufacturing expertise to implement precise adjustments and modifications, ensuring all customer products achieve superior durability, structural integrity, and validated performance under extreme operational conditions, as meticulously detailed in engineering specifications.
• Configure and optimize industrial sewing and fabrication machinery to stringent aerospace specifications and established best practices, consistently achieving precise production output and superior component integrity.
• Actively diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, process, and design issues impacting production, ensuring optimal machine performance, material integrity, and adherence to intricate aerospace specifications.
• Able to leverage expert-level aerospace fabrication knowledge and critical thinking to design innovative, complex products, strategically overcoming process bottlenecks, and excelling at managing multiple competing priorities simultaneously, all while influencing team collaboration and individual contributions to ensure exemplary safety execution.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe work area, adhering to all safety standards and expectations while complying with all quality practices.
• Performs any other function or responsibility as assigned. Demonstrate a proactive and flexible approach, readily stepping beyond defined role boundaries to contribute to critical tasks, optimize processes, and drive overall business performance.

Additional REQUIRED Qualifications/Skills

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive, expert-level experience in complex industrial textile fabrication, with a demonstrable focus on aerospace soft goods manufacturing where zero-defect thresholds are paramount.
• Mastery in operating, calibrating, and optimizing a diverse range of industrial sewing machines, including heavy-duty and specialized automated systems, to consistently achieve aerospace-grade precision and structural integrity
• Exceptional ability to interpret and meticulously execute highly complex engineering blueprints, multi-layered technical assembly diagrams, and intricate work instructions, understanding nuanced material applications and critical layer marks.
• Profound understanding and application of advanced stitching termination techniques, including precision backstitching, and expert calibration of thread tensions across a spectrum of advanced aerospace materials to prevent all forms of material distortion or stitch anomalies.
• Expertise in processing and handling highly specialized technical fabrics and advanced threads (e.g., Kevlar, Nomex, Nextel, various coated materials, conductive threads), understanding their unique properties and fabrication requirements.•    Advanced proficiency in material handling, encompassing precise measurement, intricate cutting using specialized tools (e.g., cutters, shears, laser cutting systems), and minimizing material waste.
• Demonstrated ability to consistently apply ultra-precise stitching parameters (e.g., maintaining exact stitch lengths, threads per inch, and consistent stitch patterns for both machines and, where applicable, highly specialized hand-stitching operations).
• Expert-level command of specialty tooling and fixtures pertinent to aerospace soft goods assembly (e.g., precision snap presses, specialized grommet dies, heat-sealing equipment).
• Proven ability to conduct advanced quality inspections, performing intricate verification against hyper-detailed dimension sheets and complex customer engineering drawings to ensure absolute conformance and traceability.
• Deep understanding and active application of machine calibration principles, timing synchronization, and tension management to ensure sustained peak machine performance and consistent product quality.
• Exceptional commitment to working within and continuously enhancing established aerospace safety protocols, FOD (Foreign Object Debris) control, and rigorous quality management systems.

Additional PREFERRED Qualifications/Skills:

• Adept at both autonomous execution and collaborative team environments, contributing significantly to project success and demonstrating leadership qualities when appropriate.
• Unwavering commitment to elevating quality standards and spearheading continuous improvement initiatives within a high-stakes manufacturing setting
• Demonstrated adaptability and proactive engagement in evolving production processes, materials, and technological advancements.
• Exceptional attention to detail and an unyielding commitment to precision and accuracy in all facets of fabrication and documentation.
• Proven track record of superior job performance complemented by advanced communication skills, essential for fostering a collaborative team environment and effectively contributing to critical soft goods programs.
• Preferred: Extensive experience in formal vocational training, advanced apprenticeships, or specialized certifications in industrial sewing, aerospace soft goods fabrication, or highly technical textile manufacturing.
• Highly valued certifications in specialized sewing techniques or advanced quality control methodologies relevant to precision manufacturing (e.g., Industrial Sewing Machine Operator 
• Certification, Certified Sewn Products Technician – CSPT, or advanced certifications from organizations like the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP).
• Extensive professional experience within high-reliability manufacturing sectors such as aerospace or military fabrication, with a deep understanding and adherence to stringent quality standards (e.g., ISO and AS9100).
• Exceptional proficiency in industrial sewing machine operation and a comprehensive understanding of material fabrication are paramount for excelling in this position