Forward Deployed Manufacturing Engineer (Engineer / Sr)

Forward Deployed Manufacturing Engineer (Engineer / Sr)

Remote (Southeast U.S. preferred) · 50% travel

Summary

The Forward Deployed Manufacturing Engineer supports installation, commissioning, and ramp of Deterrence’s automated manufacturing equipment at production sites across our deployed footprint. This is a hands-on field role. You will be on site helping take equipment from delivery through mechanical installation, alignment, SAT, and production ramp. You’ll work alongside controls engineers, technicians, and site teams to get machines running reliably at rate. You’ll diagnose mechanical issues in the field, make and document adjustments, and feed lessons learned back to the core equipment design team. You’ll make equipment modifications and designs as needed, working in a fast-paced environment. This is an early-career role with strong mentorship from senior field and design engineers. The role is remote-based and requires 50% travel, often in multi-week deployments.

Key Responsibilities

• Support on-site receiving, rigging coordination, installation, leveling, and alignment of automated production equipment.
• Perform mechanical checkout of motion systems, tooling, fixturing, conveyors, and material handling equipment before power-up and during bring-up.
• Support SAT execution by running test procedures, recording results, and tracking punch list items to closure.
• Help ramp equipment to target throughput, uptime, and quality by adjusting tooling, fixtures, sensors, and mechanical and process equipment settings.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, pneumatic, and electromechanical issues, and document root cause and corrective actions.
• Use SolidWorks to review and draft models and drawings, make field modifications to parts and fixtures, and redline drawings to reflect as-built conditions.
• Coordinate with machine shops and vendors on quick-turn replacement parts and field fixes.
• Work closely with controls engineers on integrated bring-up of robots, servos, pneumatics, and safety devices.
• Verify that guarding, interlocks, and lockout/tagout points are installed and functioning as designed.
• Train site technicians and maintenance staff on preventive maintenance, changeovers, and spare parts.
• Capture field issues, wear patterns, and design improvement recommendations, and feed them back to the core engineering team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in manufacturing, automation, field service, or equipment engineering. Internships, co-ops, and competitive engineering teams (FSAE, robotics, etc.) count.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude, comfortable with hand tools, measurement equipment, and working directly on machines.
• Working proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred).
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, GD&T callouts, and pneumatic schematics.
• Basic understanding of industrial automation, pneumatics, motion systems, and machine safety.
• Ability and willingness to travel 50%, including extended on-site deployments and occasional off-hours or weekend support during ramp.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel domestically.
• Ability to work on a production floor, including standing for long periods, lifting up to 50 lbs, and wearing required PPE.
• Strong communication skills and a willingness to learn quickly in fast-moving field environments.

Preferred Skills

• Experience commissioning or maintaining automated manufacturing equipment.
• Exposure to robotics, PLCs, or mechatronic systems.
• Experience with precision alignment and measurement tools (dial indicators, laser alignment, CMM, etc.).
• Familiarity with FMEA, root cause analysis methods (5 Whys, fishbone), or lean manufacturing.
• Knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, and ISO machine safety standards.
• Experience in hazardous-materials environments across the chemical, energy, automotive, aerospace, or electronics industries.
• Prior field service, startup, or forward deployed experience.

Export Control. This position may require access to information controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants must be a U.S. person as defined in 22 CFR 120.62 (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) or be eligible to obtain any required authorization.

Equal Opportunity. Deterrence Defense, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities; if you need an accommodation at any point in the process, contact View email address on aiapply.co.