Lead Manufacturing Engineer
TRL11
Irvine, CA · Posted August 8, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
More in California job market · Lead Manufacturing Engineer jobs in California (26) · All Lead Manufacturing Engineer jobs (49) · Transportation & Logistics · Engineering jobs
More roles at TRL11
- Program Manager · Irvine, CA
Similar jobs
- Staff Geotechnical Engineer · Kleinfelder · San Diego, CA
- Staff Systems Engineer · Halo Industries · Santa Clara, CA
- Engineering Program Manager 3 · Northrop Grumman · San Diego, CA
- Staff Technical Program Manager · Pinterest · San Francisco, CA
- Sr. Software Engineer, CDN (Starlink) · SpaceX · Hawthorne, CA
- Sr. Software Engineer, CDN (Starlink) · SpaceX · Palo Alto, CA
Where Irvine, CA ranks
Where Irvine, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #6Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the West Coast124 jobs · of 47
- #10Best cities for legal pay after cost of living$129k · of 20
- #10Best cities for life sciences and biotech pay after cost of living$120k · of 10
- #10Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the West Coast586 openings · of 60
- #11Best all-round cities for new graduates in the West Coast55 / 100 · of 39
- #13Best cities for manufacturing and industrial pay after cost of living$136k · of 35
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
Overview
We are seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to lead manufacturing development and improvement for advanced electro-optical space systems .
This individual will translate engineering designs into robust, repeatable manufacturing processes and work closely with mechanical, electrical, optical, systems, quality, supply chain, and production teams. Responsibilities include factory-floor development, process design, work instructions, tooling, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement.
The role will also support nonconformance and corrective action activities , including NCCR, and may contribute to the implementation and improvement of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) .
Responsibilities
Lead manufacturing engineering for assembly, integration, inspection, and test of electro-optical space hardware.
Develop manufacturing processes, assembly sequences, routings, inspection points, and production controls.
Create and maintain work instructions, travelers, manufacturing plans, and process documentation.
Partner with design engineering to provide DFMA feedback and identify manufacturing risks.
Design or specify tooling, fixtures, equipment, and assembly aids.
Help develop factory-floor layouts, work cells, material flow, and production areas.
Troubleshoot manufacturing issues directly with technicians and engineering teams.
Participate in NCCR, nonconformance investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Improve manufacturing quality, yield, throughput, cycle time, and repeatability.
Support prototype, qualification, and flight hardware through production.
Help transition products from development into repeatable manufacturing.
Support configuration control, traceability, and production documentation.
Mentor manufacturing personnel and establish manufacturing best practices.
Support MES implementation and improvement, including electronic work instructions, routings, traceability, and production data collection.
Basic
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience with complex electromechanical, optical, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware.
Experience developing manufacturing processes and production documentation.
Hands-on experience supporting hardware assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
Experience with nonconformance investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, BOMs, configuration control, and manufacturing processes.
Experience with manufacturing tooling, fixtures, and production equipment.
Strong cross-functional communication and technical problem-solving skills.
Experience developing factory layouts, production cells, and capacity plans.
Experience with MES, ERP, PLM, or digital manufacturing systems.
Preferred
7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience with technical leadership responsibilities.
Experience manufacturing spacecraft, payloads, satellites, or electro-optical systems.
Experience with precision optical, optomechanical, or cleanroom assembly.
Experience with low-volume, high-complexity flight hardware.
Familiarity with AS9100, NASA, IPC, or related aerospace standards.
Fast paced, energetic startup culture, where you'll learn a lot, have great impact, and have fun doing it
401k, Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
Unlimited Paid Time Off (with prior approval), for Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays
Stock Option Plan participation, based on performance and tenure
Salary range $120-180k