CAREERS

About Pacific Pattern Technologies

Pacific Pattern Technologies (PPT) is a small, specialized manufacturing company in McMinnville, Oregon. We design and build precision tooling and produce injected wax patterns for gas turbine engines in the investment casting industry. Our work combines practical manufacturing knowledge, creative engineering, and disciplined quality controls for demanding customer applications.

PPT uses Siemens NX for CAD/CAM and has developed parametric design and manufacturing templates that turn repeatable engineering knowledge into efficient, controlled processes. Our Excel-based Work Change Notification (WCN) system, supported by Visual Basic, connects project planning, manufacturing tasks, technical instructions, records, and production control.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a creative, technically curious person who enjoys both designing parts and improving how work gets done. This is an ideal opportunity for a recent graduate, community-college or technical-program student, or an early-career candidate with CAD/CAM, engineering, manufacturing, or programming experience.

You will work directly with experienced team members in a hands-on environment, learning our tooling and investment-casting processes while helping develop practical, reusable solutions. The right person will be comfortable moving between 3D models, manufacturing planning, spreadsheets, code, and the shop floor.

Primary Responsibilities

Create and revise 3D solid models, manufacturing details, tooling components, assemblies, and related technical documentation.

Develop design-for-manufacturing details and practical solutions that support machining, assembly, wax injection, inspection, and production.

Prepare assembly details, manufacturing plans, task instructions, and process information for use by the production team.

Use and improve PPT’s Siemens NX parametric design and manufacturing templates.

Create new parametric solutions that automate or simplify repeatable design, engineering, and manufacturing work.

Improve Excel/VBA tools and the WCN production-management system, including forms, workflows, data handling, and user controls.

Troubleshoot design, process, and system problems using logical analysis, math, testing, and input from the shop team.

Help standardize effective methods and maintain accurate, controlled information consistent with PPT’s AS9100 quality system.

Support continuous improvement projects involving quality, delivery, efficiency, repeatability, and risk reduction.

Minimum Qualifications

Approximately one year of 3D solid-modeling experience gained through employment, school, internships, or substantial project work.

Approximately one year of programming, scripting, macro development, or equivalent coursework/project experience.

Strong math, spatial-reasoning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to understand how components fit together and how designs will be manufactured and assembled.

Creative and curious approach, with the discipline to test ideas and document results.

Clear communication skills and the ability to work closely with a small, hands-on team.

Strong attention to detail, organization, and willingness to follow controlled processes.

Ability to work on-site in McMinnville and maintain a reliable daily commute.

Preferred—Not Required

Experience or coursework in Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion, CATIA, Creo, or similar 3D CAD software.

Exposure to CAM, CNC machining, tooling, molds, fixtures, plastics, wax processing, investment casting, or precision manufacturing.

Experience with Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), Python, or another programming language.

Associate or bachelor’s-level coursework in mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, mechatronics, software, CAD/CAM, or a related technical field. A completed degree is not required.

A portfolio, class project, personal project, or work sample that demonstrates how you design, build, automate, or solve technical problems.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first year, the successful candidate will be able to complete assigned design and planning work with increasing independence; use PPT’s NX and WCN systems accurately; communicate effectively with engineering and production; and contribute at least one practical improvement to a parametric template, manufacturing process, or production-management tool.

Compensation

$58,240–$72,800 annually, depending on directly relevant education, training, CAD/CAM capability, programming experience, manufacturing knowledge, and demonstrated project work.