AERO ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING

About Us

Aero Engineering and Manufacturing, located in Valencia, California, specializes in manufacturing airframe components for the aerospace and defense industry.

Founded in 1948 by Richard Junker, Aero Engineering has experienced consistent growth supporting Lockheed Martin, the Department of Defense, and various distributors in both the production and spares markets.

Aero Engineering originated in Glendale, California, in 1948 and moved to its 25,000 square foot facility in Valencia, California in 1990. As a long-time Lockheed Martin licensee, Aero Engineering has cultivated a reputation of high quality products delivered on time and at a competitive price. We take pride in our skilled and talented workforce, as well as our state-of-the-art machining equipment.

Aero Engineering specializes in the following manufacturing processes: CNC machining (milling and lathe), sheet metal fabrication, water jet machining, assembly, tubing, ducting, gaskets, seals, and welding.

The parts are manufactured to specifications and requirements designed by the OEMs and are utilized in military aircraft such as the C-130, P-3, C-5, F-16, and F-35. Aero Engineering delivers high quality parts consistently to customers, which has helped it grow over the years.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

1948

Company founded

1987

First Lockheed license agreement (F-104, T-33)

1988

P-3, S-3 added to our license agreement

1997

C-130, C-141, C-5 added to our license agreement

2003

License agreement C-130 CPP (Certified Parts Program)

2007

License agreement P-3, CP-140, S-3 CPP (Certified Parts Program)

2013

License agreement F-16 CPP (Certified Parts Program)

2014

280 New C130 PN’s and 220 new P3 PN’s added to our CPP lists

2015

85 New C130 PN’s and 50 new P3 PN’s added to our CPP lists

2016

128 New C130 PN’s and 118 new P3 PN’s added to our CPP lists

2017

148 New C130 PN’s and 414 new P3 PN’s added to our CPP lists

2020

Aero enters expanded C-130 Licensing agreement with Derco, A Lockheed Martin Company

2021

Aero Engineering expands its Leadership team to support new business growth opportunities

2023

Aero Engineering expands into the commercial space market supporting high temperature engine components and temperature stable (invar) shims.

Meet the Team

Rocky Barnhart

VICE PRESIDENT

Rocky Barnhart is a seasoned aerospace professional who joined the Aero team in 2023. With a background as a commercial pilot, Rocky has amassed over 12 years of valuable experience in the aerospace manufacturing industry. His journey began at Precision Castparts Corporation, where he rapidly climbed the ranks, excelling in diverse roles such as Program Manager, Director of Operations, and ultimately General Manager. Throughout his career, Rocky has demonstrated a keen aptitude for driving revenue growth and forging strong customer relations. His strengths extend to leading cross-functional teams, optimizing performance management, and developing and implementing effective business strategies.
Hobbies: Helping coach his kids sports, golfing, snow skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, beach days.

Bill Wilson

CONTROLLER

Bill Wilson joined the Aero Team in 2022. He brings 20 years plus in finance and accounting experience and has worked with numerous manufacturing firms over the years. He has a strong background in planning and forecasting and will bring financial visibility to the team. Bill is always looking to improve on systems to drive efficiencies and believes that continuous improvement should always be at the forefront of a company’s core ideology. He enjoys spending time with his family, participating in sports and the occasional golf game with friends.

Susana Chinchilla

QUALITY MANAGER

Susana Chinchilla joined the Aero Team in 2024, she brings 12 years of Quality experience. She has worked in the Aerospace, Medical Device and Pharmaceutical field obtaining multiple key roles within the Quality Department such as Quality Engineer, Quality Systems Specialist and Quality Operations Supervisor. Throughout her career she has climbed the ladder and proven to have passion and dedication for the Quality field. Susana brings a positive and can-do attitude; she is dedicated to building a strong quality team and build strong relationships with all departments to optimize performance and efficiency throughout the company. Susana is a well-rounded individual who knows how to get the job done.
Hobbies: Archery, Axe throwing, Hiking, Cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Bob Singley

INSIDE SALES MANAGER / IT

Bob started with Aero in 1994 as an estimator and has over 35 years of manufacturing and aerospace experience. He is also a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and supports our IT infrastructure as well. As Inside Sales Manager, Bob works with team members and management to find new customers and sales opportunities. Outside of work, Bob enjoys biking, camping, fishing, bowling, and is a licensed class AE ham radio operator.

Careers at Aero

Aero Engineering & Manufacturing supplies products ranging from hard to find one-off components to complex assemblies. We provide OEM and aftermarket solutions to some of the most iconic aircraft flying today. Our dynamic environment provides growth and training opportunities on par with large OEM’s while still maintaining a small company feel. If you are looking for a new challenge in Aerospace, check out our current job openings. Regardless of your career objectives or level of experience, Aero has a host of exciting career opportunities across the organization.

Aero Engineering & Mfg. Co. is an equal opportunity employer and will provide equal employment opportunity to employees and applicants for employment and will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, military veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family structure, genetic information, or mental or physical disability, and medical condition.

Current Openings