Manufacturing Engineering Technician III

AeroVironment • Petaluma, CA

1d

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineering Technician III role at AeroVironment involves a blend of responsibilities across manufacturing engineering, engineering development, new product introduction (NPI), and tooling design. The successful candidate will be hands-on in the early stages of building new engineering product prototypes, as well as Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) builds. This individual support Design for Excellence (DFX), and design and implement tooling and fixtures with the aid of drafting resources. They will ensure that learnings from early product builds are integrated into a production-ready package. This role supports the key step in transitioning new product introductions into mature full-rate production stages. Additionally, the candidate must possess excellent collaboration skills to ensure continuous feedback with various engineering teams and production staff.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED equivalent and/or equivalent certificate from a technical school
• 4-6 years of experience in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or Test Engineering, with experience in Aerospace, Automotive, or Commercial industries.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodology.
• Proficiency with electro-mechanical manufacturing and procedures
• Exposure to engineering drawings and Bill of Materials.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
• Occasional travel required (up to 10%).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, plastics, composite layups, PCB assembly, mechanical assembly, calibration, and testing processes.
• Strong problem-solving ability, root cause analysis skills, and ability to work independently.
• High levels of initiative, ownership, and responsibility for work products.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Effective time management, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Teamwork and collaboration-oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on building and assembly of early units of new products with engineering support.
• Conduct mechanical, electrical, and composite fabrication, troubleshooting, repair, and testing of integrated systems.
• Ensure a smooth transition from product development to manufacturing, focusing on quality, reliability and cost
• Work effectively with engineering teams and production staff to provide and receive continuous, regular feedback.
• Provide rapid prototyping fabrication and assembly services to build prototype product hardware.
• Design, develop, and implement tooling, including assembly fixtures, fabrication fixtures, and molds.
• Support DFX, cost, and reliability analysis initiatives in collaboration with design engineering teams.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, including creating and updating work instructions, assembly procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Lead efforts in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodology to achieve continuous improvement in productivity, quality, and lead times.
• Incorporate lessons learned from NPI and early product builds into efficient production processes.
• Implement ergonomic design considerations to ensure safe, effective, and productive tool usage.
• Maintain shop equipment and tools in a safe, clean, and organized environment for development and production activities.
• Track and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including build linearity and transition rates from NPI to full production.
• Work on problems of diverse scope requiring analysis of identifiable factors.

Benefits

• AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.
• For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.
• We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED