Liaison Engineer

Description Built on Experience. Built for Skill. Built for You. Keel was formed by bringing together three industry leaders combining generations of hands-on expertise in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing. That means when you join Keel, you’re joining a team backed by decades of proven craftsmanship and real-world results.

We build ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures that serve critical missions — and we do it with pride. Your Mission: The Liaison Engineer serves as the critical technical bridge between design engineering, manufacturing operations, and external suppliers. This role ensures that engineering intent is correctly translated into manufacturable solutions on the shop floor while maintaining product quality, production flow, and compliance with standards.

The Liaison Engineer provides real-time troubleshooting, drives design-for-manufacturability improvements, and manages non-conformances to support efficient and reliable production. Explore the Depth of the Role: Disposition Non-Conforming Material (MRB): Evaluate manufacturing deviations, defects, or damaged parts, serving on the Material Review Board (MRB) to authorize "use-as-is," repair, or scrap decisions.

Engineering Change Requests (ECRs): Identify design errors or unbuildable manufacturing plans on the shop floor, drafting design changes and manufacturing changes for design office approval. Real-Time Technical Support: Provide immediate, on-the-floor troubleshooting for shop floor personnel to prevent manufacturing line stoppages.

Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Feed shop-floor feedback and recurring manufacturing issues back to original design teams to improve future product revisions and tooling. Process & Drawing Interpretation: Interpret complex engineering drawings, schematics, and technical specifications for shop personnel to ensure compliance with standards.

Supplier & Vendor Coordination: Work with external suppliers when raw materials or vendor-supplied components deviate from original specification limits. Automation and Robotics: Collaborate cross-functionally to identify, implement, and optimize automated and robotic technologies across the shop floor. For new installations, the liaison engineer serves as the primary technical bridge between external system integrators, design engineering, and live production operations to ensure seamless integration and operational effectiveness.

Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Manufacturing environment experience (shop floor support strongly preferred). Proficiency in engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications. Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to respond quickly to technical issues.

Experience with MRB, ECR processes, or design change workflows is a plus. Excellent communication and collaboration skills across engineering, production, and supplier teams. Experience with automation systems, robotics, or system integrations beneficial. Travel Requirements: Between facilities as needed Physical Requirements: May be required to stand, walk, sit, reach/pull/push with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel regularly.

May lift or carry 50lbs. Weights exceeding 50lbs will require mechanical means to maneuver. Become a part of our Builders and you too can... Uphold Safety and Quality Standards Embody Team Spirit Relentless Customer Focus Convey Integrity, Trust, and Professionalism Execute with Excellence and Velocity What Keel will build for you: Comprehensive Benefit Package Competitive Pay 401(k) Match HSA/FSA Paid Holidays Paid Time Off Internal Referral Bonus Opportunities Shift Differentials Overtime Potential Paid on the Job Training Certification Sponsorship Opportunities Committed to Individual Career Growth We Do Fun Things, Plus More!

Need Assistance? If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the employment process, please email [email protected] with details about your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests are reviewed individually on a case-by-case basis. Please note that this email address is monitored only for inquiries related to reasonable accommodation requests.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans What we build, builds us.