Job Description
Manufacturing Engineer Lead
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
DEPARTMENT: Engineering
SUPERVISOR: General Manager
DIRECT REPORTS: None
Position Summary
The Manufacturing Engineer Lead is responsible for translating customer technical requirements into manufacturable solutions and owning technical execution on the production floor.
This role serves as a key technical interface between customers, engineering, quality, and production, with responsibility for resolving manufacturability challenges, supporting new product introduction (NPI), and driving consistent, repeatable build processes.
The Manufacturing Engineer Lead exercises independent judgment in interpreting technical data packages (TDPs), making real-time decisions on build approach, and ensuring alignment between customer requirements and production capability.
This position requires strong technical expertise, ownership mentality, and the ability to communicate effectively with both internal teams and external customers/vendors.
Success in this role requires hands-on technical strength, a proactive mindset, strong communication, attention to detail, and the ability to guide others in a high-urgency, high-reliability environment.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of related experience OR
Experience:
- 5 years of related experience within a military or aerospace manufacturing environment. Build-to-print manufacturing experience preferred.
Knowledge:
- Complex wire harness assembly and interconnect integration
- SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar 3D/CAD tools
- IPC/WHMA-A-620 and J-STD-001 (certification preferred)
- Military and aerospace product standards and compliance requirements
- Schematic interpretation, wire sizing, connector selection, overmolding, and potting techniques
- Root cause analysis and RCCA methodologies
Skills:
- Engineering mindset – problem solving and critical thinking are a must
- Proactive mindset – look for existing problems and identify solutions
- Proficiency with hand tools (wire cutters, strippers, crimpers, etc.)
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret schematics, blueprints, and technical drawings
- Comfort with change orders, revision control, and configuration management systems
- Advanced soldering and hand assembly (including fine-pitch components)
- Ability to mentor, train, and lead less experienced technicians
- Strong organizational, documentation, and communication skills
- Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and change management workflows
Job Responsibilities
- Own engineering efforts for the company on assigned projects, solve engineering and technical problems throughout the process.
- Create and revise manufacturing travelers, visual work instructions, and process documentation from customer-provided TDPs
- Engage in internal training efforts to improve technicians and assemblers’ understanding of documentation and build expectations
- Lead coordination between Engineering, Quality, and Production teams to resolve manufacturability and design issues
- Set up and oversee the use of test equipment, fixtures, tooling, and visual aids, and provide training to others.
- Provide on-the-floor support and troubleshooting during first article, prototype, and legacy builds
- Lead or support RCCA activities related to internal quality issues or customer returns (RMAs)
- Own continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, focusing on efficiency, repeatability, and quality, and analyze build performance and drive corrective actions to eliminate recurring issues.
- Act as a technical point of contact for customers and vendors for build clarification, manufacturability feedback, and issue resolution, and communicate technical risks, questions, and proposed solutions directly with customer engineering teams
- Support customer interactions related to first article builds, deviations, and technical inquiries
- Make and own technical decisions related to manufacturability, build methods, and process flow within defined scope and own resolution of technical issues during production, including disposition of build challenges
- Escalate complex design or compliance risks when required, but operate independently on day-to-day decisions
- Participate in ad-hoc engineering and production-related projects
Other responsibilities, initiatives and ad-hoc projects as required.
Internal and External Relationships
- Direct interaction with customers and vendors to resolve technical questions and drive alignment on manufacturability
- Cross-functional leadership with Engineering, Quality, Production, and Supply Chain to ensure successful execution of builds
- Operates with a high degree of independence while aligning with Engineering Manager on critical decisions
- Must be a U.S. person or able to comply with ITAR regulations, as required for work on defense-related program
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
- Frequent: Sitting, standing, walking, talking, hearing, seeing, writing, typing
- Occasional: Lifting up to 40 pounds and performing physical activities such as reaching, climbing, bending, kneeling, and other movements related to assembly work.
- Use of PPE such as safety glasses, safety shoes, and hearing protection as required
