Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

About Urban Sky:

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup that pioneers utilization of the stratosphere and reimagines the way humans view and analyze the earth. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems, and the data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis.

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment.

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members.

About The Role:

We are seeking a detail-oriented Manufacturing Engineer to lead the transition of new products from engineering development into full-scale production. This role is responsible for developing robust manufacturing processes, creating high-quality work instructions, and ensuring seamless integration into our MRP system.

The ideal candidate will bridge design and production, ensuring products are manufacturable, safe, and optimized for quality, cost, and throughput.

Key Responsibilities:

• New Product Introduction:
• Lead onboarding of new products from engineering into manufacturing
• Develop and validate build processes, test procedures, and production workflows
• Collaborate with design engineering to ensure manufacturability (DFM) and production readiness
• Drive pilot builds, first article builds, and production ramp-up activities

• Work Instructions & Documentation
  
• Create clear, detailed, and technician-friendly work instructions
• Ensure all documentation includes:
  • Safety requirements and hazard mitigations
  • Quality checkpoints and verification steps
  • Tools, materials, and process parameters
• Continuously improve documentation based on production feedback

• Manufacturing System Integration
  
• Build and maintain product structures (BOMs), routings, and work orders in our custom MRP system
• Ensure accurate translation of engineering data into production-ready systems
• Support technicians with system usability and clarity

• Configuration Management
• Manage product configurations across revisions and variants
• Ensure alignment between engineering documentation, MRP, and production floor execution
• Track and communicate changes impacting cost, quality, or manufacturability

• Production Process Development & Optimization
• Develop and implement manufacturing processes for new products
• Evaluate and improve existing processes for efficiency, quality, and safety
• Identify needs for new equipment, tooling, and automation

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with Engineering, SQMA (Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance), Supply Chain, and Production teams
• Act as the manufacturing point of contact for new product readiness
• Support root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering field
• 1+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or in a production environment
• Strong experience with:
  • Work instruction creation and process documentation
  • Configuration management for active production
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes (assembly, fabrication, testing, etc.)
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Strong communication skills

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of quality systems (ISO, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Hands-on experience supporting technicians on the production floor
• Proficient with CAD software for mechanical and/or electrical systems
• Start-up experience
• Fabrication experience in a shop environment

Requirements:

• Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must be located near Denver, CO or willing to relocate

Benefits:

• Medical, Vision and Dental
• Unlimited Vacation Days
• Parental Leave
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend
• Stock Options

Urban Sky is required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience.

Colorado Pay Transparency

$80,000—$120,000 USD

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes that they have the skills and the passion necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

This position may require the candidate to deal with commodities, software, technology, defense articles, and/or technical data which are subject to the Export Administration Regulations and/or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Additional information may be requested so as to determine whether export authorization is required from the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent upon the Company successfully obtaining such authorization from the relevant government agency.

Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.