Manufacturing Engineer NPI

INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS COMPANY LLC•Fountain Valley, CA

14h•$95,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

The NPI Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for leading new product introductions from customer order through successful First Article Inspection (FAI) and full manufacturing readiness. This role partners closely with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain to review customer drawings, specifications, BOMs, tooling, and build processes to ensure products meet performance, quality, and customer requirements prior to release into production. This is a highly hands-on role focused on the NPI lifecycle, including Design for Manufacturability (DFM), process development, and risk mitigation. The NPI Manufacturing Engineer identifies, and resolves build issues early, develops prototype and sample builds, and supports FAI (including AS9102 when applicable). This role serves as a critical bridge between customer design requirements and scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes, ensuring a smooth transition from prototype to full production.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience.
3+ years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, NPI Engineering, or related roles.
Strong ability to read and interpret complex assembly drawings, technical specifications, BOMs, and other customer requirements.
Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, process development, and production readiness in technical manufacturing environments.
Working knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA) principles and process validation techniques.
Experience interfacing directly with Production teams, operators, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Experience supporting prototype builds, pilot runs, process development, and First Article Inspection (FAI).
Experience reviewing customer requirements and translating them into manufacturable, production-ready processes and builds.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing or other continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, communication, and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment with a strong sense of ownership.
Proactive mindset with the ability to identify risks, ask questions, and drive solutions independently.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aerospace, defense, medical device, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Experience with cable assemblies, wire harnesses, connectors, overmolding, or electromechanical assemblies.
Experience leading or supporting prototype builds, pilot runs, FAI, and production launches.
Experience with AS9102, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, or process validation.
Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks or similar platforms.
Experience with automation, tooling, fixtures, or equipment development.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.
Experience working with contract manufacturers or external suppliers.
Experience with ERP systems such as M3 or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the NPI manufacturing process from customer order/release through successful First Article Inspection (FAI) and production readiness.
Review and interpret customer drawings, specifications, BOMs, and performance requirements to define manufacturing and build strategies and identify Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA) opportunities.
Lead Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRRs), identifying and addressing risks related to tooling, materials, processes, quality, documentation, and supply chain readiness.
Develop and execute prototype builds, sample assemblies, pilot runs, and process development activities to validate manufacturability and identify potential production risks.
Troubleshoot build and process issues during NPI, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions to support successful product launches.
Partner with Quality to coordinate and support First Article Inspections (FAI), including AS9102 documentation when applicable, and drive closure of open items.
Work closely with Production during prototype, pilot, and early production builds to resolve process gaps and establish repeatable manufacturing methods.
Develop and maintain routers, BOMs, work instructions, process specifications, and other manufacturing documentation required for production release.
Identify, specify, and support implementation of tooling, fixtures, equipment, and automation required for safe, efficient, and repeatable manufacturing.
Drive DFM/DFA improvements that improve manufacturability, yield, quality, production efficiency, and cost.
Evaluate manufacturing processes, labor requirements, tooling, and other production considerations to identify cost risks and opportunities before production release.
Coordinate engineering changes during NPI and early production phases and ensure affected manufacturing processes and documentation are updated.
Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Production, Procurement, Quoting, and other cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on product requirements, manufacturing strategy, and launch execution.
Identify and communicate NPI risks, dependencies, and open issues and drive them toward resolution.
Ensure new products meet applicable quality, functionality, regulatory, and customer requirements prior to volume production.
Incorporate safety and ergonomic considerations into new process, tooling, and equipment development.
Provide hands-on manufacturing engineering support on the production floor during prototype, pilot, and early production builds.
Support continuous improvement and process optimization activities as new products transition into production.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of business needs.