Lead Production Engineer

Senra Systems•Cypress, CA

18d•$115,000 - $155,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Senra Systems, we believe that the future of manufacturing lies not in automation, but in configuration. We supercharge electrical wire harness manufacturing through software configuration, transforming skilled assembly tasks into high-throughput production lines. We enable customers to design what they want, when they want it and deliver harness builds at record-breaking speed. We’re building a dedicated Production Engineering function at Senra Systems from the ground up, and we need a leader to own it. As Lead Production Engineer, you will define how Production Engineering operates day-to-day, hire and develop a team of Production Engineers, and serve as the primary bridge between Production and Manufacturing Engineering teams. This is a player-coach role – you carry your own technical workload while growing the people around you. Where Manufacturing Engineers own the front end – BOMs, Engineering Masters, work instructions, formboards – you own execution. Your team is the technical backbone of the production floor: troubleshooting builds in real time, dispositioning NCRs, supporting first articles, and ensuring every kit that hits a workbench is accurate and ready to work. This role reports directly to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager and works cross-functionally with the Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Production teams.

Requirements

5+ years in wire harness or cable assembly manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a senior, lead, or manager-level role
Deep knowledge of wire harness assembly processes: wire prep, crimping, soldering, backshell assembly, harness routing, and electrical testing
Strong working knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards; CIS or CIT certification preferred
Experience managing or mentoring engineers or technicians with measurable results
Ability to read and interpret complex wiring diagrams, schematics, assembly drawings, and specifications
Strong verbal communicator – comfortable working with technicians, supervisors, and cross-functional engineers in the same conversation
Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident)

Nice To Haves

Experience in an aerospace or defense contract manufacturing environment
Familiarity with NASA 8739.4 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 space addendum workmanship requirements
Experience with MIL-spec connectors and contacts across multiple connector families
Experience supporting a facility scale-up, production line bring-up, or new product introduction in a high-mix environment
Familiarity with ERP or MES systems in a manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

Hire, onboard, and develop a team of Production Engineers; set clear performance expectations and build a high-accountability team culture
Hold regular 1:1s with your team; understand their development goals and actively create growth opportunities
Define escalation paths clearly – what PEs handle, what comes to you, and what goes to ME or Quality
Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex production issues, difficult NCR dispositions, and critical first article reviews
Maintain hands-on presence; this role leads from the floor, not from a desk
Own first article sign-off for the PE team; review and approve PE-initiated dispositions before release
Own the working relationship between Production Engineering and the ME organization; represent production needs in engineering planning conversations
Ensure documentation issues (redlines, work instruction gaps, formboard errors) are tracked, communicated, and resolved with the ME team within defined SLAs
Provide structured feedback to ME leads on recurring documentation or DFM issues surfaced during production
Own PE team NCR disposition SLA performance; track aging and report weekly to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Drive root cause and corrective action on repeat non-conformances; close the loop with production and quality
Partner with Quality on workmanship trends, inspection holds, and systemic issues requiring cross-functional action
Oversee kit verification processes and ensure the PE team is catching discrepancies before they reach the floor
Identify systemic kitting gaps and escalate to ME and supply chain with data-backed recommendations
Track and report PE team performance weekly: NCR disposition SLA, first article cycle time, open issue aging
Provide commentary on trends, risks, and improvement actions – not just raw numbers
Define and document how Production Engineering operates at Senra – standard workflows, escalation paths, and handoff protocols with ME – particularly as Factory Two scales up
Identify and lead targeted process improvement initiatives that reduce rework, floor disruptions, or NCR volume

Benefits

Unmatched opportunities to drive impact on a friendly and mission-driven team
Own a piece of the pie with equity participation!
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Spending Account (DSA) for health-related expenses
20 vacation days per year and 12 company holidays for rest and relaxation
a 401(k) plan to set yourself up for retirement
Choose a record you love, and we’ll add it to our growing vinyl collection!
$50/month DoorDash credit – lunch is on us!
Up to $100/month reimbursement for gym memberships
Fully stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages
Regular team-building events, lunches, and the occasional breakfast burrito!
Bright, open office with communal spaces for collaboration and free parking
Conveniently located near the metro, major freeways and local dining spots