Senior Manufacturing Engineer
About The Position
PTF Consulting is recruiting for an aerospace company that designs, develops, manufactures, and qualifies deployable systems for major aerospace contractors, government agencies, and commercial customers. With more than 50 years in the industry, the company supports hardware designed for space, lunar, and other demanding environments. This hands-on senior role will help move lightweight deployable spacecraft payload structures and related electromechanical assemblies from development and qualification into First Article builds, low-rate initial production (LRIP), and full-rate production. The engineer will work with Design Engineering and production teams to develop the processes, tooling, documentation, and manufacturing methods needed for repeatable, scalable hardware. The position is based on-site in Tustin, California. Candidates must be able to commute to the site or relocate before starting. U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a security clearance are required; an existing Secret or Top Secret clearance is strongly preferred but not required.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited four-year university.
- At least seven years of manufacturing engineering experience, including substantial hands-on work in aerospace, spacecraft, or similarly demanding hardware environments.
- Experience with spaceflight hardware or spacecraft-related systems and manufacturing development through pilot production and First Article.
- Experience with composite hand lay-up and/or lightweight structural assemblies.
- Strong experience creating controlled manufacturing documentation, including MWIs, routings, and travelers.
- SolidWorks proficiency, including tooling and fixture design; candidates will complete a SolidWorks assessment.
- Hands-on experience with tooling development, fabrication support, 3D printing, 80/20 framing, and rapid prototyping.
- Experience solving manufacturing problems directly with production technicians.
- Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, bills of materials, configuration control, and manufacturing processes.
- Working knowledge of AS9100D, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma.
- Clear communication and effective collaboration with Engineering, production, Quality, Program Management, suppliers, and customers.
- U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain a security clearance.
- Ability to commute to the on-site Tustin location or relocate before starting.
Nice To Haves
- An existing Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
Responsibilities
- Lead manufacturing engineering from concept and prototypes through qualification, First Article, pilot production, LRIP, and production scale-up.
- Develop manufacturing processes for lightweight spacecraft structures, including composite hand lay-up and electromechanical assemblies.
- Translate engineering drawings, CAD models, bills of materials, GD&T, specifications, and requirements into practical manufacturing methods.
- Create and maintain Manufacturing Work Instructions (MWIs), assembly instructions, routings, and travelers for AS9100D-controlled production.
- Design tooling, fixtures, jigs, assembly aids, and inspection aids in SolidWorks.
- Use 3D printing, 80/20 aluminum extrusion, fabrication support, and rapid prototyping to develop and refine manufacturing solutions.
- Work with technicians to troubleshoot manufacturing problems, improve processes, and make designs easier to build.
- Partner with Design Engineering on Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA), manufacturing readiness, and pilot runs.
- Support qualification hardware and First Article builds, configuration control, nonconformance resolution, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
- Participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities and provide manufacturing input on nonconformances.
- Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to improve quality, yield, throughput, repeatability, and efficiency.
- Plan scalable work cells, material flow, tooling strategies, and production capacity.
- Provide technical leadership and mentor junior engineers and manufacturing personnel.
- Contribute to design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and discussions with suppliers, customers, and cross-functional teams.
Benefits
- Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching.
- Flexible spending account.
- Employee assistance program.
- Company-sponsored life insurance.
- Company-sponsored long-term disability insurance.
- Paid time off, with up to four weeks in the first year.
- Paid holiday schedule.
- Professional development and growth opportunities.
- Tuition reimbursement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
