Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Job Summary:

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer provides critical engineering support to ensure efficient, high-quality production. This role partners with design, procurement, quality assurance, and assembly teams to translate engineered designs into manufacturable assemblies, optimize production processes, and support new product development. The engineer defines assembly documentation, establishes work instructions, develops and improves manufacturing processes, and helps train personnel to ensure consistent quality, safety, and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support for the company's manufacturing operations.
• Develop and maintain assembly documentation to sustain high-quality standards in products.
• Represent manufacturing interests as a member of the Integrated Product Team (IPT).
• Collaborate with design engineers to partition new products into assemblies that can be built with minimum variation by assembly personnel.
• Provide documented feedback for DFMA improvements, scalability, and new processes/technology for engineering.
• Work with IPT to ensure that Design for Manufacture principles are utilized in the design of new products.
• Define and design assembly fixturing to improve build efficiency and quality.
• Perform root cause corrective actions based on NCR data and other process improvement needs.
• Collaborate with procurement and quality assurance to qualify new suppliers.
• Build prototype units with assembly, test, and engineering personnel when necessary and ensure documentation reflects the as-built condition.
• Define and revise assembly BOMs and test routings for work orders.
• Serve as engineering interface to resolve manufacturing problems on the assembly floor.
• Train assembly personnel in proper use of tools, equipment, and assembly techniques.
• Implement improvements throughout the assembly process to reduce costs, reduce variation, or improve reliability.
• Identify potential safety hazards in assembly processes and design processes and fixtures to minimize safety risks.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in manufacturing or mechanical engineering.
• 5–9 years of experience in manufacturing engineering.
• Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to extract manufacturing information from a computerized inventory control system.
• Experience supervising or guiding less senior positions assigned to a program or project.
• Knowledge of transitioning prototypes into production builds.
• Ability to work in a small, effective manufacturing team.
• Ability to translate an engineered design into build instructions for assembly and test personnel.
• Knowledge of Lean Principles.
• Ability to determine cost-effective and reliable means of assembly in an electronics environment.
• Responsibility for establishing and maintaining assembly documentation.
• Ability to comprehend specification sheets.
• Familiarity with Windows-based personal computers.
• Ability to work with a minimum of supervision.

Desired Qualifications and Skills

• Experience with new product development.
• Familiarity with electronics manufacturing.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication, plastics, and printed circuit board manufacture.
• Knowledge of computerized MRP/ERP systems, inventory control methods, and production control techniques.
• Experience with supplier management and procurement (SOWs, RFPs, vendor management).

Comprehensive Benefits & Perks

• Health & Wellness: Three health, dental, and vision plans with a 100% employer-paid option for employees and families.
• Paid Time Off: 120 hours PTO (80 hours accrued) plus 40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to holidays.
• Life Insurance: $25,000 employer-paid policy with option to purchase additional coverage.
• Supplemental Coverage: Optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and related coverages.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Tax-advantaged account to manage medical expenses.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) with company match.
• Paid Holidays: Nine paid holidays per year.
• Work Environment: Casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming culture.
• Ideal Location: Strong quality of life in the area.

Company Overview

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective solutions. We specialize in cutting-edge system design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the aerospace community. We are committed to excellence, on-time delivery, and continuous growth, investing in infrastructure to expand manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities while maintaining high standards of engineering services.

At ESAero, we engineer solutions that propel the aerospace industry forward.

This position is fully on-site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA

ESAero is an equal opportunity employer. E-Verify participation is required for employment. Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States. Must be able to pass background check and drug test.

Hiring Range: $110-140k Salary/Exempt