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Defense Research & Technical Engineer

Wichita, Kansas Job ID 2025-15443 Category Defense Post Date Sep. 26, 2025
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At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.


Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France, and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles, and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.

Responsibilities:

  • Industrializes and scales fabrication, machining, and additive metal manufacturing processes for new aerostructure applications, with a focus on high temperature metal alloys.
  • Defines and performs research programs to mature concepts, technologies and processes.
  • Defines engineering requirements, qualification plans, and compliance approaches up front in design for metal additive manufacturing, metallic machining and fabrication, and advanced welding technologies.
  • Understands full life cycle requirements for product development. Defines future factory vision, concepts and options.Supports advanced metal technology manufacturing projects from concept to transition to operation through the stage gate process.
  • Defines engineering requirements and compliance approaches up front. Defines test and certification plans.
  • Assesses or evaluates product performance and manufacturing cost and viability. Perform trade studies for design alternatives.
  • Capable of defining necessary resources and development plans. Works in concert with key functions to align and advance research plans.
  • Progresses concept through initial configuration, prototyping, risk reduction and mature technology readiness.
  • Documents and communicate plans and evaluations for future work packages, i.e. bid and proposal.

Required Qualifications: 

  • Requires a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Aeronautical Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program
  • 0-2+ years of related experience
  • Familiarity with metal additive technology, metal fabrication, machining, and welding technology (electron, laser beam, friction stir)
  • Team player, detail oriented
  • Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
  • Successful candidates must be able to secure Program Access approval 

Preferred Skills:

  • Active DoD Security Clearance
  • Experience using 3D modeling software slicing software for additive manufacturing 
  • Knowledge and experience with metal fabrication and machining technology
  • Knowledge and experience with metal additive manufacturing technologies including laser powder bed fusion and various direct energy deposition processes
  • Knowledge and experience with electron and laser beam welding and friction stir welding
  • Proficiency in CATIA or other 3D CAD modeling software
  • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Project, and PowerPoint

Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

Kansas Tax Credit: Join Spirit AeroSystems’ Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Click here for more information on the tax credit.


Equal Opportunity Employer

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

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Your Benefits

No matter where you are in life, our benefits help prepare you for the present and the future.

  • Generous company match to your 401(k).
  • Industry-leading tuition assistance program pays your institution directly.
  • Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy benefits.
  • Up to $10,000 gift match when you support your favorite nonprofit organizations.
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These programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other conditions, which may differ for employees of certain subsidiaries or business units, or union-represented employees depending on bargaining agreement terms. If this information conflicts with the program documents, the latter shall control. This material is informational only.

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