Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Production/Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking an exceptional Manufacturing Engineer to help build, test, qualify, and produce next-generation spacecraft. In this role, you apply innovative solutions and advanced technologies to solve complex manufacturing and engineering challenges at both the system and component levels. You partner closely with cross-functional teams to drive the seamless transition from development to production, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and reliability in a low-rate, high-complexity manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact for production-related issues, ensuring rapid resolution of problems and implementation of robust long-term corrective actions.

• Manage non-conforming materials within production, including reviewing and approving nonconforming material (NCs/MRBs) and coordinating appropriate disposition.

• Lead structured root cause investigations using problem-solving techniques such as Fishbone Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, and DMAIC to address production and quality issues.

• Create, update, and maintain shop orders, work instructions, and standard operating procedures to support continuous and reliable production flow.

• Develop and maintain troubleshooting documentation for production test hardware to enable efficient triage and repair of issues.

• Collaborate closely with design, quality, and test engineering teams to support both development and production programs and ensure manufacturability and testability.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, and other Operational Excellence methodologies to enhance processes, yield, and throughput.

• Support integration, testing, and troubleshooting of mechanical and electronic systems at component, subsystem, and system levels.

• Contribute to process improvement activities across manufacturing processes, including assembly, bill of material accuracy, and technical documentation quality.

• Participate in or support automated manufacturing processes and test methods, helping to optimize production efficiency and reliability.

• Assist with functional testing and environmental testing activities, such as thermal, acoustic, and vibration tests, to qualify spacecraft hardware.

• Produce clear technical documentation, including test plans, standard operating procedures, work instructions, and troubleshooting guides to support production teams.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

• Demonstrated experience reviewing and approving nonconforming material (NCs/MRBs) within a production environment.

• Experience working in low-rate, high-complexity manufacturing environments, ideally involving complex assemblies or aerospace hardware.

• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles, including 5S, and Six Sigma methodologies for continuous improvement.

• Proficiency in root cause analysis tools such as Fishbone Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, and DMAIC.

• Experience creating and updating work instructions and standard operating procedures for production operations.

• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, quality control practices, and production systems.

• Hands-on experience with manufacturing engineering, testing, troubleshooting, and triage of production issues.

• Ability to develop and manage corrective action plans and oversee the resolution of non-conformance in production.

• Competence in preparing and maintaining technical documentation, including shop orders, work instructions, and troubleshooting documentation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with automated manufacturing processes and test methods at component, subsystem, and system levels.

• Knowledge of QTP/ATP, functional testing, and environmental testing such as thermal, acoustic, and vibration testing.

• Strong experience in electrical system design, metrology, and mechanical failure analysis.

• Demonstrated technical writing skills for documentation such as test plans, standard operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides.

• Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a production environment, including lean manufacturing and Six Sigma projects.

• Exposure to mixed-model assembly environments, such as satellite constellation or similar complex assembly operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Redmond, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $70.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Redmond,WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 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 click.appcast.io 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.