Pros
Advanced Composites is a relatively small company that works in aerospace, defense, and other commercial and industrial sectors. Advanced Composites manufactures high tech, high performance structures out of advanced materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other cutting edge materials. The products that I have been involved in the design and development of include items that make planes fly, make our country safer, or allow others to experience the great outdoors (like with our whitewater rafting oars).
Engineering at ACI is dynamic- for the right person it's great. Unlike many larger aerospace companies, an engineer at ACI gets to be closely involved in all stages of engineering- design and development, prototyping, process engineering, etc. For hands on engineers that means getting to run the CNC machining centers to generate tooling, performing a large scale test, or work side by side with production to develop a process. It's not all sitting behind a computer or all day at a machine either.
Over the years I have seen great opportunity for people to move up in the company. I know that upper management includes people that started in positions such as maintenance or purchasing and worked up to Vice President levels. Additionally, I have seen people move from entry level positions up to QA Mananger, Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Production Supervisor, Purchasing Manager, and many more. As a small company, the owner knows your name and your contributions directly- which is probably why we have had so much advancement from within.
For a small company the benefits package is good. There is a good 401k, profit sharing, programs like safety bucks and health incentives. Pay is competitive. As a AS9100 quality management system company, there is a dedicated commitment to continuous improvement and quality.
Cons
Technically challenging work. In a small company your personal contributions are seen- good or bad.
