Lead Manufacturing Engineer
About The Position
Swarmbotics is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to be the first dedicated manufacturing hire on the team. This is a foundational role where you will define our manufacturing capability as we transition from batch builds to scalable, repeatable production. You will be the critical bridge between our design/CAD engineering team and the technicians who assemble FireAnt, working hand-in-hand with our Manufacturing & Supply Chain Lead to bring structure, process, and discipline to how we build. You will own the evolution of our build strategy toward structured, documented, efficient production systems that enable reliable growth. You will be hands-on, writing work instructions, designing fixtures, building and testing alongside technicians, and solving problems on the floor every day. At the same time, you'll bring the strategic perspective to define what our production processes, tooling, and facility needs will look like at scale. We need someone who has led manufacturing efforts before but thrives in the scrappy, fast-moving environment of an early-stage company where you build the playbook yourself.
Requirements
- 4+ years experience in manufacturing engineering, production engineering, or process engineering
- Demonstrated experience building manufacturing processes from scratch or standing up new production lines, not just optimizing existing ones
- Strong DFM expertise with a track record of collaborating with design engineers to improve manufacturability
- Experience creating Bills of Process, work instructions, and structured assembly workflows
- Experience developing work instructions, PFMEAs, quality control plans, and standard work documentation
- Hands-on experience with assembly tooling design, fixture development, and error-proofing methods
- Proven ability to work directly on the production floor alongside technicians; you build, not just plan
- Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment with evolving requirements
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or a related field
- Ability to relocate to or work onsite in Phoenix, AZ
- Eligibility for a U.S. security clearance
Nice To Haves
- Experience in defense, aerospace, automotive, or robotics manufacturing
- Experience scaling production from prototype through LRIP to full-rate production
- Experience designing or commissioning assembly cells or production lines
- Background in electromechanical assembly including integrating electronics, wiring harnesses, sensors, and mechanical structures
- Familiarity with additive manufacturing for tooling, fixtures, or prototype components
- Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience
Responsibilities
- Own the development of manufacturing processes, work instructions, and bill of process (BOP) for FireAnt assembly
- Conduct design for manufacturability (DFM) reviews with the design/CAD engineering team, providing actionable feedback to improve assembly efficiency, reduce cycle time, and lower cost
- Design and source assembly tooling, fixtures, and error-proofing (poka-yoke) solutions to improve quality and throughput
- Develop and maintain process documentation including PFMEAs, quality control plans, and standard work
- Define dimensional control strategies and inspection methods to ensure precision and consistency across builds
- Scope manufacturing requirements for scaling, including facility layout, equipment, automation opportunities, and workforce planning
- Work directly alongside technicians on the assembly floor, building systems, troubleshooting issues, and driving continuous improvement in real time
- Partner closely with the Manufacturing & Supply Chain Lead on BOM validation, vendor coordination, component sourcing, and kitting strategies for low-rate and ramp production
- Evaluate and introduce new manufacturing equipment, tooling, and automation where justified to expand capability and capacity
- Implement lean manufacturing principles to optimize workflow, reduce waste, and balance cycle times across assembly stations
- Establish traceability and MES systems appropriate for defense production requirements
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
