Advanced Engineering Technician
General Dynamics Mission Systems · Marion, VA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 26 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at General Dynamics Mission Systems (aerospace & defense) in Marion, VA.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Tooling
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Virginia: typical posted base $85k–$135k.
Median of the low and high ends of 15 live postings that list pay, out of 47 manufacturing engineer openings in Virginia, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Virginia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 46 other live manufacturing postings in Virginia.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $79k–$129k, from 13 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 47%
- New product launch 30%
- Lean 28%
- Automation 26%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at General Dynamics Mission Systems
We found 2 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Toni → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: General Dynamics Mission Systems in Marion
9 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in manufacturing roles at General Dynamics Mission Systems.
- Manufacturing Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Senior Principal Industrial Engineer · Industrial · Senior
- Senior Manufacturing Engineering Technician · Manufacturing · Senior
- Senior Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing · Senior
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- Advanced Materials & Process Engineer - Composites · Process
Advanced Engineering Technician at General Dynamics Mission Systems in other locations
General Dynamics Mission Systems lists this title in 3 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from General Dynamics Mission SystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
Associate's degree in related discipline or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience is required plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.
Requirements
Department of Defense Secret security clearance is obtainable within a reasonable amount of time after hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility
requirements
for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.
Responsibilities
for this Position
Developing mission-critical systems that help keep people safe is what we do. At General Dynamics Mission Systems, you’ll be part of the team that helps heroes make a true impact. The work we do is important. The challenges we face are career-defining. The opportunity we can offer is one-of-a-kind. We apply advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, AR/VR, Cloud Native and Quantum Physics to solve our customers’ missions in cyber, RF, undersea, interstellar and everything in between. Working with Engineering, Operations Support and individuals in other departments, the Advanced Engineering Technician will support engineering activities such as design, test, check-out, modification, fabrication and assembly of prototype electro mechanical systems, experimental design circuitry, laser/light transmission devices or specialized test equipment. This may entail performing the following:
- ◆Interprets basic engineering drawings, diagrams and schematics
- ◆Constructs, modifies, debugs, troubleshoots, calibrates, tests and adjusts a variety of tools, equipment and systems
- ◆Conducts, analyzes and documents statistically based experiments to define process parameters
- ◆Implements and documents complex solutions for process improvement
- ◆Designs and constructs basic tooling and fixtures to accomplish unique tasks
- ◆Organizes, analyzes and interprets data to identify cause/effect relationships and recommends resolution/process improvement
What you’ll experience
- ✓Technologies that aren’t just top-notch, they’re often top-secret
- ✓A team of bold thinkers committed to exploring what’s next
- ✓Opportunities to gain new knowledge - as it’s discovered
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Basic
What you bring to the table
- •An Associate’s degree in related discipline or equivalent plus a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience
- •Solid knowledge and proficiency in the use of fabrication tools
- •Ability to fabricate complex hardware
- •Solid knowledge of generally accepted technical theory
What sets you apart
- •Team player who thrives in collaborative environments and revels in team success
- •Commitment to ongoing professional development
- •Superior communication and collaboration skills
- •Identifies opportunities to apply AI for continuous improvement and innovation
Salary Note
USD $33.66 - USD $36.10 /Hr.
Company Overview
General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!
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