Chief Technician- Solid Rocket Motors

Role overview

Machining and workshop leadership

• Lead manufacture of motor cases, bulkheads, closures, nozzle components, and igniter hardware; set up, programme, and operate CNC equipment.
• Interpret drawings and GD&T; oversee fabrication, machining, heat treatment, joining, and surface-treatment processes.
• Develop machining strategies, tooling, fixtures, and process sheets for prototype and pre-production work.
• Supervise and mentor technicians, allocate workloads, guide technical decisions, and enforce safe workshop practices.

Quality, planning, and engineering support

• Lead dimensional inspections using CMMs and precision gauges; maintain inspection records, material traceability, and first-article reports.
• Investigate non-conformances, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage manufacturing schedules, production risks, outsourced work, supplier reviews, and component acceptance.
• Review designs for manufacturability and assembly; support metallic subassembly integration and maintain procedures and work instructions.

Workshop improvement

• Maintain tooling inventories, equipment readiness, and calibration schedules; enforce 5S and health and safety requirements.
• Improve cycle times, reduce scrap and rework, optimize machining costs, and implement improved prototype and pre-production processes.

Minimum qualifications and experience

• Requires a diploma or technical qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Precision Engineering, or a related discipline; a relevant bachelor’s degree is advantageous.
• Requires 15+ years of hands-on precision metal manufacturing experience in aerospace, defence, or high-performance mechanical engineering.
• Requires at least 5 years in a senior machinist, lead technician, or equivalent technical leadership role, including CNC turning and milling of pressure-vessel or structural components.
• Requires experience with rocket motor hardware or comparable high-consequence components and the ability to lead workshop manufacturing and supervise technical personnel.

Technical knowledge

• Requires advanced CNC turning, milling, drilling, machining-centre, tooling setup, and programming skills.
• Requires advanced knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, surface finishes, precision metrology, CMMs, and gauging.
• Requires knowledge of aerospace materials, quality systems such as AS9100, first-article inspection, documentation, certification, and traceability.

Preferred experience and credentials

• Preferred experience includes difficult-to-cut aerospace alloys such as D6AC, 4340, titanium, and nickel superalloys; flow forming, tube spinning, forging, ring rolling, and heat treatment.
• Pressure-vessel manufacturing, leak testing, and assembly torque or preload procedures are listed as familiarity areas.
• CAM software such as Mastercam or Fusion 360 and certifications in CMM operation, MT/PT non-destructive testing, aerospace welding, or joining are preferred.