Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer Job Description

The Manufacturing Engineer serves as the primary technical focal point for assigned projects, ensuring that all manufacturing processes, documentation, and deliverables meet customer procurement specifications and internal requirements. This role focuses on developing and validating robust manufacturing processes, improving product manufacturability, driving cost reduction, and supporting new product introduction in a fast-paced aerospace environment. The position offers the opportunity to work on both legacy and new programs, collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, and influence tooling, process design, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for assigned projects and ensure compliance with all customer and product procurement specifications.
• Validate that manufacturing processes meet all customer and internal requirements and adjust processes as needed to maintain compliance.
• Initiate and support product manufacturability efforts, ensuring that detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies can be produced efficiently and consistently.
• Review and support the release of planning documents, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with engineering requirements.
• Lead or support Advanced Quality Planning (AQP) activities to ensure quality is built into processes from the outset.
• Define and support tooling requirements for manufacturing and assembly processes, coordinating with tooling design as needed.
• Create clear, concise Visual Work Instructions (VWI) for detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies to guide production operations.
• Develop and maintain accurate work instructions and operation time standards, including the creation of Work Combination Sheets (WCS).
• Ensure manufacturability of detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies for assigned projects and programs, considering capabilities and constraints.
• Serve as a liaison to provide technical assistance between internal manufacturing and customer engineering teams when required.
• Support the development of supplier processes and assist in resolving supplier-related manufacturing issues.
• Assist in the initial manufacturing cycle of new detail parts, sub-assemblies, and assemblies for New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Monitor and follow up on the effectiveness of manufacturing processes, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Identify, implement, and drive cost reduction ideas and participate in special cost reduction initiatives as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Work on or lead Production Support Teams and collaborate with team members to address and resolve manufacturing issues in a timely manner.
• Perform Root Cause and Preventive Action (RC/PA) activities to eliminate causes of nonconforming products and prevent recurrence.
• Perform, document, and validate processes for components, assemblies, and systems, including machining, forming, stamping, heat treating, and chemical processing.
• Work with a variety of materials such as titanium, Inconel, aluminum, stainless steel, and O1 and D2 tooling steels, ensuring appropriate process controls.
• Ensure that all engineering changes are thoroughly documented, communicated, and implemented within manufacturing processes and documentation.
• Coordinate and support the design of tooling as it applies to manufacturing and assembly processes, ensuring tools align with process requirements.
• Develop sound manufacturing processes that leverage the organization’s existing capabilities and align with operational goals.
• Review production drawings for technical content, manufacturability, and clarity, and provide feedback as needed.
• Make recommendations and offer credible, practical solutions related to products, tooling, and manufacturing processes.
• Provide data and relevant technical input to support the quoting process, including estimates of process steps, timing, and resource needs.

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or another engineering discipline with at least 3 years of engineering experience, preferably in an aerospace environment, or M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or another engineering discipline with at least 2 years of engineering experience in an aerospace environment.
• Experience in manufacturing engineering with a focus on process development, validation, and improvement.
• Background in aerospace or similarly regulated, precision manufacturing environments.
• Experience working in fast-paced manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of sheet metal processes, including welding and forming.
• Familiarity with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods as applied to aerospace components and materials.
• Understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and its application to production drawings and processes.
• Knowledge of aerospace materials, including titanium, Inconel, aluminum, stainless steel, and tooling steels such as O1 and D2.
• Ability to develop and validate manufacturing processes such as machining, forming, stamping, heat treating, and chemical processing.
• Experience creating and maintaining clear, concise work instructions and Visual Work Instructions (VWI).
• Ability to apply operation time standards and develop Work Combination Sheets (WCS).
• Demonstrated experience with process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including performing Root Cause and Preventive Actions for nonconforming products.
• Ability to participate in or lead multi-disciplinary teams focused on production support and cost reduction.
• Strong communication skills to act as a technical liaison between manufacturing, engineering, and external stakeholders.
• Project management capabilities to coordinate multiple tasks, timelines, and stakeholders within assigned projects.

• Experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience with Advanced Quality Planning (AQP) is beneficial.
• Familiarity with developing supplier processes and resolving supplier manufacturing issues is advantageous.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, including initial manufacturing cycles of new parts and assemblies.
• Exposure to quoting processes and the ability to provide technical data and input for cost estimates.
• Comfort working on both legacy projects and new programs, adapting to evolving requirements and priorities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a cohesive engineering and planning team.
• Willingness to travel occasionally, including potential annual travel to a manufacturing facility in Mexico.

This is a full-time, onsite position with a standard 40-hour workweek, Monday through Friday. The schedule offers flexibility, with typical hours around 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and start times generally ranging from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. to accommodate personal commitments such as family responsibilities. The role is based in a dedicated building that focuses on a single customer and a limited number of parts, creating a less complex environment than the main facility while still providing meaningful technical challenges. The engineering team consists of approximately 15 manufacturing engineers, including several team members focused on planning, fostering a collaborative and cohesive group dynamic. The position may involve occasional travel, such as an annual visit to a facility in Mexico to support the offloading of specific parts. The work environment emphasizes hands-on engagement with manufacturing processes, close collaboration with cross-functional teams, and opportunities to work on both legacy and new programs, allowing you to take on diverse responsibilities and wear multiple hats.

This is a Permanent position based out of Burbank, CA.

The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $85000.00/yr.

health, dental, vision, 401K, 2 weeks PTO, 10 holidays (including company shut down at the end of the year)

This is a fully onsite position in Burbank,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.