About the position
At LeoLabs, the Hardware Engineering Team designs, develops, manufactures, and deploys the advanced radar systems which provide persistent orbital intelligence to our customers worldwide. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will be a key player in building and scaling our next-generation radar and sensor hardware operating at UHF, S-Band, and other frequency bands. You will drive the transition from design to production, develop DFM processes, and serve as the technical interface between engineering, LeoLabs' supply chain team, and our contract manufacturers. This role demands strong cross-functional collaboration and comfort with ambiguity in a fast-paced, high-performing team. This is a full-time, on-site role based at our headquarters in Menlo Park, CA, and reports to the Hardware Engineering Manager. Occasional international travel may be required.
Responsibilities
- Conduct DFM reviews and provide manufacturing feedback throughout the hardware design process
- Serve as the primary technical interface to contract manufacturers for PCBAs and mechanical components
- Coordinate rework and repair of field-returned radar hardware with the Global Infrastructure team
- Collaborate with Supply Chain Management to ensure smooth execution of production builds and coordinate proper use of LeoLabs inventory-including CIP assets-during hardware repairs and rework activities
- Develop and document scalable production and assembly processes
- Improve manufacturability, repairability, and production planning frameworks across the radar product line, including feeding design failure analysis back to the engineers
Requirements
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- 5+ years of relevant experience in a manufacturing or hardware development environment
- Demonstrated experience supporting the production of complex electromechanical systems
- Proficiency with at least one CAD tool (e.g., SolidWorks) and one schematic/layout tool (e.g., Altium)
- Working knowledge of DFM principles for PCBAs and machined metal parts
- Excellent communication skills and experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and vendors
Nice-to-haves
- Experience with PLM (e.g., Arena) and ERP (e.g., NetSuite) systems
- Background in radar, RF systems, or other defense, industrial, or scientific electronics manufacturing
- Experience developing test and inspection procedures for low- to mid-volume production
- Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, debugging, or rework
- Ability to thrive in a startup or rapidly evolving environment
- Experience building vendor relationships and managing outsourced fabrication or assembly
