Expeditor

Description

Company Background and Summary

Votaw Precision Technologies is a trusted leader in the manufacturing of complex precision components, assemblies, and systems for the aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. With a strong reputation for technical excellence, quality craftsmanship, and on-time delivery, Votaw supports some of the world’s most demanding programs through its advanced manufacturing capabilities. The company specializes in precision machining, fabrication, welding, and complex assembly operations for mission-critical applications. Votaw Precision Technologies has long been a trusted partner in building mission-critical hardware for some of the most advanced aerospace and defense programs in the world. Our precision components support the International Space Station, nearly every major launch vehicle in operation, high-performance spacecraft (including classified missions), as well as next-generation fighter aircraft, bombers, submarines, radar systems, and ground vehicles.

The Expeditor plays a critical role in supporting the efficient flow of production within a precision machining environment manufacturing flight-critical aerospace and defense hardware. This position is responsible for ensuring machinists and various production personnel have the materials, tooling, documentation, and resources necessary to execute production schedules and meet customer delivery commitments.

Acting as a key liaison between Production Control, Tooling, Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing, the Expeditor proactively coordinates work orders, kits materials, stages tooling, and removes obstacles that could impact machine utilization, throughput, quality, or on-time delivery performance.

Essential Functions

• Review production schedules and work orders to ensure materials, tooling, fixtures, and documentation are available prior to machine setup and production.
• Kit and stage raw materials, tooling, inserts, fixtures, gauges, and supporting documentation for upcoming manufacturing operations.
• Coordinate with CNC machinists, programmers, and supervisors to prepare jobs for efficient machine startup and uninterrupted production.
• Verify work order packages contain all required travelers, drawings, specifications, inspection plans, and customer requirements.
• Monitor production workflow and proactively identify shortages, bottlenecks, or resource constraints that could delay manufacturing operations.
• Expedite movement of parts, materials, tooling, and documentation between departments including Receiving, Inspection, Tool Crib, Production, Quality, and Shipping.
• Ensure machining centers are adequately supported with required tooling, fixtures, cutting tools, consumables, and setup resources.
• Coordinate with Tooling and Purchasing teams to address tooling shortages and urgent production requirements.
• Assist in managing inventory levels of frequently used tooling, inserts, cutting tools, and shop supplies.
• Support first article, prototype, development, and production programs requiring expedited processing.
• Maintain accurate transaction records within ERP/MRP systems and support inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Communicate schedule changes, production priorities, and material constraints to manufacturing personnel.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on workflow efficiency, setup reduction, machine utilization, and on-time delivery performance.
• Maintain strict adherence to AS9100 quality standards, traceability requirements, and customer-specific aerospace and defense regulations.
• High awareness and competitive drive to exceed manufacturing metrics, including but not limited to machine utilization, capacity planning, machine mean time between failures, queue time reduction, bottleneck recovery, capacity model accuracy and setup time reduction.
• Ability to operate lifting devices including overhead gantry cranes and industrial trucks. 
• Ensure all work processes comply with regulatory standards, and safety policies.

Requirements

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced production environment with changing priorities.
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain certification preferred.
• Strong preference for experience in manufacturing, aerospace, or defense. Plus, for experience in a job shop environment including build-to-print, custom fabrications and large component manufacturing. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with internal teams; including the ability to bring internal teams together to spearhead issues. 
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a high-pressure, team-oriented environment.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 2-5 years of experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, manufacturing, production control, materials management, or shop operations preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong aptitude CNC machining operations, specifically the setup of metallic raw material on machining center (setup + fixturing experience). 
• Ability to read and interpret manufacturing work orders, engineering drawings, and production documentation.
• Understanding of CNC machining environments, tooling requirements, setup processes, and manufacturing workflows.

Key Performance Indicators

• On-time job readiness for machine setup
• Machine utilization support
• Production schedule adherence
• Material and tooling availability
• Reduction of setup delays and production interruptions
• Inventory accuracy
• Internal customer satisfaction

Personal Attributes

• Highly self-motivated and directed.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Work Conditions

• Ability to work onsite, including hours outside of a normal working day, to meet critical deadlines. 
• Ability to scan the shop floor to obtain visual job status. 
• This position operates within a precision manufacturing environment supporting the production of mission-critical aerospace and defense components. Success requires a high sense of urgency, attention to detail, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to coordinate effectively across multiple departments to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing operations and customer delivery commitments. 

Additional Requirements

• This position requires the use of information or access to hardware subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons as defined by ITAR. 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

Votaw Precision Technologies, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/Vets.