Manufacturing Engineer
Howmet Aerospace · Hampton, VA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Certification
- Green Belt preferred
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Howmet Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Hampton, VA. Influence --leverages knowledge, relationship, data and perspective to persuade, educate and navigate; gains buy in and adoption of ideas and practices at scale; interacts with a variety of stakeholders.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required · Green Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Green Belt, Kaizen, Automation, Time studies
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–$150k.
Median of the low and high ends of 11 live postings that list pay, out of 34 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 33 other live manufacturing postings in Virginia.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $79k–$110k, from 9 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 47%
- New product launch 41%
- ✓ Lean 32%
- ✓ Automation 26%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Green Belt, Kaizen, Time studies, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Howmet Aerospace
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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?
- The posting mentions a Green Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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: Howmet Aerospace in Hampton
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Manufacturing Engineer at Howmet Aerospace in other locations
Howmet Aerospace lists this title in 4 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from Howmet AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
This position will be in Hampton, VA and will support IGT manufacturing by providing focused projects that will improve throughput, reduce inventory & reduce operating expense. This position will drive continuous improvement through the reduction of labor costs and new/improved methods & equipment. Must be able to apply standard practices and techniques, adjust and correlate data, recognize discrepancies in results and take corrective action. Will document work, prepare technical notes/reports/documents, and establish customer contacts (internal & external) as required.
Responsibilities
This position is responsible for developing manufacturing methods to produce parts that consistently meet or exceed our customers’ requirements. Also, continuous improvement of processes by improving methods and developing new methods of manufacturing, leading to increased yields and reduced labor content.
- ◆Conceives, evaluates and implements Kaizen and other formal problem-solving activities, cost reduction initiatives and part/process improvement activities
- ◆General Technical Support - Collects data and supports manufacturing needs.
- ◆Quotation Prep - Develops material, scrap and labor costs for cost modeling.
- ◆Tooling Development and Build - Provides input based on customer specifications for BOM, routings and milestone plans. Provides manufacturing support fixtures and dies.
- ◆Process Development - Provides manufacturing support for prototypes, instructions and data analysis.
- ◆Equipment Design, Build and Procure - Troubleshoots, validates and qualifies equipment.
- ◆Cell and Standard Work Development - Conducts time studies. Develops cell layout
- ◆Part Number Scrap Reduction and Yield Improvement - Collects data and analysis.
- ◆Floor Coverage and Support - Completes general daily process walk through. Collects data and analysis
- ◆Standard Labor and Process Time Reduction - Analyzes shift labor efficiencies and affectivities. Conducts cost modeling. Implements tooling change.
Education
- ✓BS Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
- ✓3-5 years of Continuous Improvement, Engineering, or other related Manufacturing experience.
- ✓Employee must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
- ✓This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓BS degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Technology
- ✓Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Higher
- ✓Experience in Kaizen, continuous improvement
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Manufacturing Engineer
Howmet Aerospace , headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. Our primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structural parts and forged wheels. With $7.4 Billion in revenue in 2024, our products play a crucial role in enabling fuel efficiency and lightweighting, contributing to our customers’ success and making a positive impact on the world. To learn more about the way Howmet Aerospace Inc. is advancing the sustainability of our customers, markets, and communities where we operate, review the 2024 Environmental Social and Governance report at www.howmet.com/esg-report . Follow: @howmet LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube .
If you need assistance to complete your application due to a disability, please email TalentAcquisitionCoE_Howmet@howmet.com.
Salary
Anticipated Pay Range: $80K-100K per year. *Pay rates within this range are determined based on various factors including experience, education, certifications, etc.
Job
Job Roles
- •Operational accelerator --drives continuous improvement; understands ramifications of automation and other advances; advocates for safety, ergonomics and scalable solutions
- •Systems thinker --sees the business and its operation holistically; understands actions and reactions; considers multiple pathways of potential effect before decisions; thinks strategically about interventions with an eye toward scale
- •Optimizer --constantly challenging the organization to work smarter; supports others to ensure they have what they need to do their work successfully
- •Anticipation --looks ahead to minimize potential issues and maximize advantages; prepares others for what comes next
- •Organization and structure --works within existing structures while striving to improve and standardize them; provides accurate information; galvanizes others toward common goals
- •Influence --leverages knowledge, relationship, data and perspective to persuade, educate and navigate; gains buy in and adoption of ideas and practices at scale; interacts with a variety of stakeholders
- •Data informed --focused on things that drive quantifiable business outcomes; evaluates based on quantitative feedback; knows and explains the “why” behind actions
- •Prioritized reaction --handles the unexpected without losing sight of important objectives; reacts where greatest leverage points exist
- •Relationship --connects individually and with teams across shifts and practices; builds rapport and commonality; creates a “win together” ethic; serves as liaison between shop floor and engineering; keeps the pulse of the floor; helps people feel heard
Basic