Manufacturing Engineer II

AeroVironment•Petaluma, CA

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineer II designs and operates manufacturing systems for AeroVironment’s Unmanned Air Vehicles. The role selects manufacturing technologies and processes, plans and designs factory operations, and manages maintenance and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes. The engineer applies knowledge of production processes, including developing and monitoring automated systems and new technologies, and supports and maintains processes used to manufacture Small Unmanned Air Vehicles. The position works with production, design engineering, suppliers, and contract manufacturers to develop and maintain manufacturing processes, equipment, documentation, capacity models, and production strategies. It addresses problems of moderate scope that require reviewing a variety of factors. Occasional travel to supplier sites may be required, up to 30%. The role requires access to ITAR- and/or EAR-controlled information; applicants must meet the stated U.S.-person or export-license eligibility requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or a similar field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Two to five years of experience in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Test Engineering, or a similar field in the aerospace, automotive, or commercial industries.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodology.
Experience with electro-mechanical manufacturing, drawings, procedures, and Bills of Materials.
Experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Project), MiniTab, Oracle, Agile, and CAD programs.
Ability to travel occasionally to supplier sites, up to 30%.
Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment.
Ability to sit and stand for long periods and to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
Applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR/EAR requirements or be eligible for an export license. Some positions may require current U.S. citizenship due to contract requirements.
Strong organization and planning, oral and written communication, time management, conflict management, stress management, and ability to meet deadlines and work independently.
Problem-solving skills and familiarity with root cause analysis techniques.
Ability to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where small teams share a broad variety of duties.
Initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives; ownership of work products; and commitment to learning from mistakes and improving performance.
Effective analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills, with teamwork and collaboration.

Nice To Haves

Specific experience with sheet metal fabrication, plastics, composite layups, printed circuit board assembly, mechanical assembly, calibration, and testing processes.
SolidWorks experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Create equipment specifications and documentation for development, qualification, and support of production assembly and test equipment.
Help implement Lean Manufacturing principles and apply Six Sigma methodology to improve productivity, quality, and lead time.
Generate Value Stream Maps to reduce cycle time, waste, variation, and low production yields.
Develop manufacturing strategies and capacity models for new and current products, including estimating and maintaining capital requisitions.
Generate new and review existing work instructions, assembly procedures, and supporting manufacturing-process documentation.
Estimate costs for new tooling and fixtures required for the production floor.
Lead Make/Buy analysis on assemblies with a cross-functional team.
Perform Design for Manufacturing, cost, and reliability analysis on new products with the design engineering team.
Work with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure receipt of conforming parts and assemblies.
Address problems of moderate scope through analysis of situations or data and review of a variety of factors.
Perform other duties as assigned.