Virtual
Industry Pathways | Manufacturing, Engineering & Technical Trades
May 19, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm ET
About This Event
Manufacturing, engineering, and the technical trades represent one of the most natural and rewarding transitions for veterans leaving military service. The discipline, technical proficiency, and mission-driven mindset you developed in uniform are exactly what leading defense contractors, aerospace companies, and industrial manufacturers are looking for. FourBlock is proud to bring together top hiring partners and industry leaders to help you understand how your military experience maps directly to civilian careers in these high-demand fields.
This Industry Pathways event connects transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with recruiters and professionals from organizations like Boeing and Northrop Grumman — two of the world's most recognized aerospace and defense employers — as well as Draper, a renowned nonprofit research and development laboratory. You will hear firsthand about the roles these companies are actively hiring for, what the onboarding experience looks like for veterans, and how to position your background to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
Whether you served as a maintainer, engineer, logistics specialist, or in any technical Military Occupational Specialty or Rating, this session is designed to show you that your skills have direct, tangible value in manufacturing floors, engineering labs, and technical operations centers across the country. FourBlock's mission is to ensure every veteran has access to a meaningful career, and this event is a direct expression of that commitment.
What to Expect
- Moderated Panel Discussion: Hear from military recruiting leads, talent acquisition partners, and veteran program managers at Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Draper as they share insights about hiring veterans into manufacturing, engineering, and technical trade roles.
- Veteran-Focused Career Insights: Panelists will speak directly to how military training, clearances, and technical experience translate into civilian engineering and manufacturing career paths.
- Interactive Q&A: Come prepared with your questions about job requirements, application processes, veteran hiring programs, and what these companies look for in candidates with a military background.
- Virtual Networking Opportunities: Connect with recruiters and fellow veterans in a welcoming, virtual environment designed to open doors and start real conversations.
- Breakout Sessions: Engage in smaller group discussions with recruiters and hiring managers to get more personalized guidance and make a memorable impression.
- Post-Event Resource Access: Registered attendees will receive access to follow-up materials, company career portals, and FourBlock's career transition tools to continue their momentum after the event.
Who Should Attend?
This event is designed for anyone in the military community who is exploring careers in manufacturing, engineering, or the technical trades. You belong here if you identify with any of the following:
- Transitioning Active Duty Service Members who held technical, mechanical, electrical, or engineering roles in any branch of the military and are preparing to separate within the next 12 to 24 months.
- Veterans at Any Stage of Transition who are looking to pivot into or advance within the manufacturing or engineering sectors and want to connect directly with employers who actively recruit from the military community.
- Military Spouses who have technical backgrounds, STEM education, or relevant experience and are seeking stable, high-growth career opportunities with veteran-friendly employers.
- Veterans with Security Clearances who are interested in defense manufacturing, aerospace engineering, or classified technical programs where clearance eligibility is a significant asset.
- Service Members from Technical MOS, Ratings, or AFSCs including aviation mechanics, combat engineers, nuclear technicians, biomedical equipment technicians, and anyone with hands-on technical or systems experience.
- Veterans Interested in Skilled Trades who are exploring careers in welding, machining, quality assurance, supply chain, or production management within large-scale industrial environments.
Explore Career Paths In:
- Aerospace Manufacturing Technician — Support the production, assembly, and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, and defense systems in highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Systems Engineer — Design, integrate, and test complex engineering systems across defense, aerospace, and industrial platforms.
- Quality Assurance and Quality Control Inspector — Ensure products and components meet rigorous safety, regulatory, and performance standards throughout the manufacturing process.
- Manufacturing Engineer — Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, tooling, and production workflows to improve efficiency and product quality.
- Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Technician — Perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on aircraft, defense systems, and industrial equipment.
- Electrical and Electronics Engineer — Design and develop electrical systems, wiring schematics, and electronic components for aerospace and defense applications.
- Supply Chain and Logistics Manager — Oversee procurement, inventory, and distribution operations that keep complex manufacturing programs running on time and on budget.
- Program Manager — Lead cross-functional teams and manage the full lifecycle of engineering and manufacturing programs from concept through delivery.
- CNC Machinist and Precision Fabricator — Operate computer-controlled manufacturing equipment to produce precision parts and components for aerospace and defense systems.
- Test and Evaluation Engineer — Plan and execute rigorous testing programs to validate the performance, safety, and reliability of new and existing systems.
- Industrial Safety and Environmental Health Specialist — Manage workplace safety protocols, compliance programs, and environmental regulations within manufacturing facilities.
- Technical Project Coordinator — Support engineering and production teams by coordinating schedules, documentation, and cross-departmental communication on complex projects.
What You'll Get
- Access to FourBlock's CareerFlow AI Tools: Registered attendees receive access to FourBlock's CareerFlow platform, powered by artificial intelligence, to help you translate your military experience into civilian language, tailor your resume for manufacturing and engineering roles, and identify the best-fit career opportunities based on your background and goals.
- Direct Connections with Veteran-Friendly Employers: Walk away with real relationships — not just business cards — from recruiters and talent acquisition professionals at Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Draper, and other industry-leading organizations who are actively seeking candidates with your military experience.
- Post-Event Career Resources: Following the event, attendees will receive curated resources including job board links, veteran hiring program information, resume tips specific to the manufacturing and engineering sectors, and recordings or recap materials from the session.
- Ongoing FourBlock Community Support: This event is one part of FourBlock's broader ecosystem of career programming. Attendees gain access to a network of veterans, mentors, and career coaches who are committed to helping you find purpose and prosperity in your next chapter — just as FourBlock has done for thousands of veterans nationwide.
Participating Companies
Speakers
Angela Infante
Veteran Program Lead
Boeing
LinkedIn
Dani Windham
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Military, Veterans and Allies
Ish Escobar
Military Recruiting Lead
Boeing
LinkedIn
Jason Geiselhart
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
LinkedIn
Jennifer Santos
VP of Strategy
Draper
Jessie Ussery
Talent Acquisition Business Partner
LinkedIn
Kortnie Johnson
Louis Johnson
Security Manager
Dynamic Aviation
LinkedIn
Mark Munson
Sr Project Engineer, Flight Mechanics Department
The Aerospace Corporation
LinkedIn
Matthew Gaskin
Sr. Principal Talent Acquisition
LinkedIn
Mouse Neumeister
Systems Director
The Aerospace Corp
LinkedInCategories