Vacuum Furnace Engineer

Job Description Summary

GE Aerospace operates three cutting-edge manufacturing facilities in the Muskegon area. Our plants are home to high performance teams who are creating quality High Pressure Turbine Nozzles, Low Pressure Turbine Nozzles, and Shrouds for use in commercial and military aircraft engines. The manufacturing processes we use include High Speed Grinding, Brazing / Heat Treat, In-machine deburr, Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) such as Conventional, Speed Drills, CNC and Wire as well as Ultrasonic Cleaning and VPA Coating.

As the Vacuum Furnace Engineer, you will provide engineering support associated with the manufacturing process, including driving improvements that impact vacuum furnace maintenance events and overall equipment reliability. This position will directly influence departmental operations through planning and execution, with some autonomy while operating within an established discipline governed by standard functional practices and procedures. In this role, you will report to the Senior Metallurgical Engineer and may require judgment, typically exercised with guidance.

This position will require up to 25% travel.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the site expert on vacuum furnace operation, maintenance, and repair, defining and controlling process conditions, tooling, and equipment settings to ensure safe, reliable performance
• Lead troubleshooting and repair of vacuum furnaces, using advanced diagnostics, root cause analysis, and TPM principles to reduce unplanned downtime and chronic equipment-related losses
• Partner closely with maintenance and machine repair teams to plan and execute preventive and predictive maintenance, develop PM routines, and optimize spare parts strategies for critical furnace assets
• Collaborate with engineers, team coaches, and business leaders to align furnace capability with production requirements, SQDC targets, and value stream plans, escalating risks and proposing data-driven solutions
• Coach operators and frontline teams on autonomous maintenance, equipment care, abnormal condition recognition, and standard work adherence to build ownership and improve equipment reliability
• Use structured problem solving and waste identification (DOWNTIME) to eliminate equipment-related causes of defects, waiting, and extra processing in the heat treat value stream
• Provide clear, credible communication across levels of the organization, from shop-floor maintenance and operators to engineering, value stream leaders, and senior leadership, ensuring shared understanding of equipment status, risks, and improvement actions

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university (or a high school diploma / GED with a minimum of 4 years of hands-on vacuum furnace maintenance and repair experience)
• At least an additional 3 years of hands-on vacuum furnace maintenance and repair experience

Desired Characteristics:

• Extensive hands-on experience in the operation, maintenance, and repair of industrial vacuum furnaces in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting furnace issues, interpreting furnace charts/data, and restoring equipment to stable, capable operation
• Strong understanding of heat treat processes, metallurgy basics, and the relationship between furnace performance, product quality, and safety
• Experience/expertise in vacuum furnace operation, maintenance, and repair, including advanced diagnostics, refurbishment, and rebuild techniques
• Strong total productive maintenance (TPM) mindset with a track record of building operator ownership, preventive/predictive maintenance routines, and early equipment management practices
• Experience/ability to train, coach, and influence both operators and maintenance personnel, fostering shared accountability for equipment care and reliability
• Experience/ability to work effectively across a wide range of stakeholders, including maintenance/machine repair, engineers, team coaches, business leaders, and site leadership
• Commitment to safety and disciplined execution of maintenance procedures, lockout/tagout, and other critical safeguards
• Experience/skill in structured problem solving and waste identification (DOWNTIME), using data to eliminate chronic equipment-related defects, waiting, and extra processing in the value stream
• Comfortable working "door-to-door" across the process, from Genba on the shop floor to discussions with engineers, team coaches, business leaders, and site leadership, with strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• Humble: respectful, receptive, agile, eager to learn
• Transparent: shares critical information, speaks with candor, contributes constructively
• Focused: quick learner, strategically prioritizes work, committed
• Leadership ability: strong communicator, decision-maker, collaborative
• Problem solver: analytical-minded, challenges existing processes, critical thinker

GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness.

GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a "Sponsor"). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor's welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Additional Information

GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer . Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).

Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes