Senior NPI Engineer, Core Technology Products

We are seeking a Senior NPI (New Product Introduction) Engineer, Core Technology with strong manufacturing, assembly, and test engineering experience to drive the transition of complex systems from prototype to high-rate production. This role requires a hands-on engineer with deep expertise in manufacturing processes, test development, and production scaling while ensuring quality and reliability for mission-critical applications.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• New Product Introduction (NPI): Own the transition of propulsion systems, actuators, and electrical/mechanical assemblies from prototype to high-rate production, ensuring manufacturability, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Test Engineering: Develop and implement test plans, processes, and systems for validating mechanical, electromechanical, and propulsion subsystems during development, production, and final acceptance.
• Manufacturing Process Development: Design, document, and validate scalable manufacturing and assembly processes. Introduce automation and tooling to optimize production efficiency and ensure consistency.
• High-Rate Production Support: Work closely with production teams to scale manufacturing processes, troubleshoot issues, and optimize for high-yield, high-throughput production.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Collaborate with design engineers to optimize mechanical and electromechanical designs for manufacturability, assembly, and cost.
• End-to-End Quality Control: Partner with quality engineering to define inspection and acceptance criteria. Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for production or field failures.
• First Article Builds: Lead first article manufacturing and testing, ensuring parts meet specifications and performance requirements.
• Data-Driven Process Improvement: Use statistical methods, data analysis, and lessons learned to optimize processes and improve product quality and assembly line throughput.
• Tooling & Fixtures: Develop and implement tooling, jigs, and fixtures to support efficient and repeatable manufacturing and assembly processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering, supply chain, and production teams to drive seamless collaboration across the product lifecycle.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of experience in NPI, manufacturing engineering, test engineering, or production support for mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Experience developing and implementing test systems for functional, performance, and environmental testing across development and production phases.
• Deep experience in manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, injection molding, casting, sheet metal fabrication, and electromechanical assembly.
• Demonstrated expertise in DFM/DFA principles and transitioning products from prototype to high-rate production.
• Proven track record of supporting first article builds, pilot production, and production ramp-up.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems, including root cause analysis, failure analysis, and corrective actions.
• Experience with tooling and fixture design for assembly and testing.
• Strong proficiency with CAD and PLM tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, or similar).
• Strong analytical skills, including experience with statistical process control (SPC), process validation, and data analysis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with propulsion systems, electric motors, gearboxes, or high-performance actuators in aerospace, automotive, or defense industries.
• Familiarity with environmental testing (vibration, thermal, shock) for mission-critical systems.
• Proficiency in automated manufacturing and assembly processes.
• Experience with defense or aerospace industry standards (e.g., AS9100, MIL-STD).
• Six Sigma certification and experience implementing lean manufacturing principles.
• Passion for delivering high-quality, mission-critical products at scale.
• Proactive and detail-oriented problem solver with a hands-on approach.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to operate seamlessly across cross-functional teams.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment focused on innovation and impact.