A system comprising: an augmented reality headset configured to drive an AR view that digitally visualizes ply placement data on a composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset; and an AR ply layup engine configured to: analyze a view of the AR headset to identify the composite part layup tool; match a computer-aided design generated ply placement position of a given ply to layup via the composite part layup tool; and provide the CAD generated ply placement position of the given ply to the AR headset as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset; characterized in that the AR ply layup engine is further configured to: determine an incremental placement path for the given ply, wherein the incremental placement path signals a sequence for a user to layup various portions of the given ply; and provide the incremental placement path for the given ply to the AR headset further as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset, wherein the AR headset is further configured to continuously transmit view data of the given ply during physical layup, and the AR ply layup engine is further configured to continuously analyze the transmitted view data to determine a current state of the physical layup for the given ply, and the AR headset is configured to remove completed portions of the incremental placement path as the physical layup portions of the given ply are completed. an augmented reality headset configured to drive an AR view that digitally visualizes ply placement data on a composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset; and an AR ply layup engine configured to: analyze a view of the AR headset to identify the composite part layup tool; match a computer-aided design generated ply placement position of a given ply to layup via the composite part layup tool; and provide the CAD generated ply placement position of the given ply to the AR headset as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset; characterized in that the AR ply layup engine is further configured to: determine an incremental placement path for the given ply, wherein the incremental placement path signals a sequence for a user to layup various portions of the given ply; and provide the incremental placement path for the given ply to the AR headset further as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset, wherein the AR headset is further configured to continuously transmit view data of the given ply during physical layup, and the AR ply layup engine is further configured to continuously analyze the transmitted view data to determine a current state of the physical layup for the given ply, and the AR headset is configured to remove completed portions of the incremental placement path as the physical layup portions of the given ply are completed. analyze a view of the AR headset to identify the composite part layup tool; match a computer-aided design generated ply placement position of a given ply to layup via the composite part layup tool; and provide the CAD generated ply placement position of the given ply to the AR headset as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset; characterized in that the AR ply layup engine is further configured to: determine an incremental placement path for the given ply, wherein the incremental placement path signals a sequence for a user to layup various portions of the given ply; and provide the incremental placement path for the given ply to the AR headset further as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset, wherein the AR headset is further configured to continuously transmit view data of the given ply during physical layup, and the AR ply layup engine is further configured to continuously analyze the transmitted view data to determine a current state of the physical layup for the given ply, and the AR headset is configured to remove completed portions of the incremental placement path as the physical layup portions of the given ply are completed. determine an incremental placement path for the given ply, wherein the incremental placement path signals a sequence for a user to layup various portions of the given ply; and provide the incremental placement path for the given ply to the AR headset further as the ply placement data to digitally overlay on the composite part layup tool physically visible through the AR headset, wherein the AR headset is further configured to continuously transmit view data of the given ply during physical layup, and the AR ply layup engine is further configured to continuously analyze the transmitted view data to determine a current state of the physical layup for the given ply, and the AR headset is configured to remove completed portions of the incremental placement path as the physical layup portions of the given ply are completed.