Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Location: United States, Onsite
We are a growing rocket manufacturing company developing large scale launch hardware and highly complex space systems. Our products require full traceability, intensive testing, and rigorous manufacturing discipline. We are looking for a Manufacturing Engineering Manager who can strengthen our production capability, mentor and develop earlier career engineers, and help build the robust, data driven manufacturing systems required to produce flight hardware at scale.
Our rockets stand more than fifty feet tall, and the assemblies involved include large structures, precision electro mechanical components, and tightly controlled processes. The right candidate will bring experience from commercial or military aircraft manufacturing, large scale aerospace assembly, or similarly regulated industries where quality, traceability and process structure are non negotiable.
This is a hands on leadership position for someone who wants to help shape a manufacturing organisation as it grows, while still remaining actively involved in solving complex technical challenges.
Role Overview
The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will lead the creation and optimisation of manufacturing processes for critical rocket and spacecraft components. This includes process definition, tooling strategy, data systems, quality metrics and the mentoring of a high performing engineering team.
This leader will help establish a manufacturing culture that values accuracy, safety, documentation, continuous improvement and high reliability. The role combines technical depth, leadership capability and the ability to guide a team through rapid development cycles.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Process Development
Develop scalable, repeatable and efficient manufacturing processes for large and complex assemblies. Define process flow, equipment requirements, tooling design and facility considerations for producing highly traceable hardware.
High Traceability and Data Collection
Build systems that ensure 100 percent part and process traceability. Create methods for capturing the significant amounts of test and process data produced during manufacturing, and ensure that data is used to improve quality and predictability.
Documentation and Configuration Control
Convert engineering bills of materials into structured manufacturing bills of materials. Create detailed work instructions, assembly procedures, and visual standards that ensure consistent execution.
Leadership and Mentorship
Serve as a player coach who supports the development of early career engineers. Provide technical direction, problem solving leadership and coaching in manufacturing engineering fundamentals.
Manufacturing Execution System Leadership
Lead the implementation of a Manufacturing Execution System, including integration with ERP and other enterprise tools. Ensure real time visibility into production status, data integrity and process control.
Continuous Improvement
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma principles. Lead 5S, root cause analysis, corrective actions and cross functional improvement projects.
Performance Metrics and Quality Culture
Define and track key manufacturing metrics related to safety, quality, delivery and cost. Champion a quality first culture and ensure compliance with aerospace quality standards such as AS9100.
Engineering Collaboration
Work closely with design engineering, test engineering and advanced manufacturing teams to integrate Design for Manufacturability and Design for Test into the development process. Support the introduction of engineering changes into production with minimal disruption.
Required Experience
The ideal candidate will bring:
- A bachelors degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Aerospace or Industrial Engineering
- At least five years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, automotive or other highly regulated fields
- Two or more years in a leadership or supervisory role
- Experience developing new manufacturing processes and scaling them into stable operations
- Strong background in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
- Experience implementing MES and ERP systems
- Demonstrated success in managing highly traceable, regulated production environments
- United States citizenship or permanent residency for export compliance
- Experience in rapidly scaling or high volume manufacturing settings
- Lean Six Sigma certification at Green or Black Belt level
- Hands on experience with complex electro mechanical assemblies
- Experience with PLM systems and eBOM to mBOM transitions
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary between 157,250 and 193,800 USD
- Additional compensation and benefits
- Medical, dental and vision coverage
- On site perks, including provided lunches
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
