Lead Manufacturing Engineer

NextGenEnergyJobs; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGenEnergyJobs is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to provide technical leadership for development, validation, and sustainment of aerospace manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, and MGSE across AIT activities.

You will mentor CAD & Development Engineers, prioritize work to meet milestones, and drive continuous improvement using DfX and Lean Six Sigma in a fast-paced space environment.

Qualifications

• Lead technical engineering teams or manufacturing development activities.
• Develop manufacturing processes, work instructions, and production documentation.
• Apply DfM, DfA, and DfX to improve manufacturability and efficiency.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience in satellite AIT or aerospace manufacturing.
• Proficient with CAD platforms such as SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, Creo or AutoCAD.
• Knowledge of aerospace standards (NASA, ECSS, ISO, MIL-STD, IPC, J-STD).
• Experience in MGSE, tooling, fixtures, and Test/EGSE support.
• Root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and CAPA.
• Experience with machining, materials, and process selection.
• Experience with heavy equipment and rigging operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support Manufacturing CAD & Development Engineers.
• Assign and prioritize engineering activities to meet milestones.
• Promote engineering best practices and knowledge sharing.
• Support technical reviews and guide engineering decisions.
• Develop and standardize manufacturing processes and documentation.
• Apply DfX principles to improve manufacturability and efficiency.
• Define strategies for scalability and product quality.
• Ensure solutions meet technical, cost, and schedule goals.
• Lead tooling, fixtures, and MGSE design and lifecycle management.
• Coordinate fabrication, procurement, and qualification of tooling.
• Lead readiness activities for new products and programs.
• Ensure processes and resources are ready before production.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Lead MRAs and production readiness assessments.
• Lead root cause investigations and CAPA.
• Drive continuous improvement for quality, safety, and cycle time.
• Use manufacturing metrics to identify improvements.
• Collaborate with Design, AIT, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, PM.
• Support supplier and customer technical discussions.
• Ensure manufacturability is considered throughout development.
• Contribute to program execution from development to production.

Skills

Leadership

DfX knowledge

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

CATIA

Creo

AutoCAD

PLM systems

ERP/MES

Job description

The Lead Manufacturing Engineer provides technical leadership for the development, validation, and sustainment of manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, and mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) supporting spacecraft assembly, integration, and test (AIT).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support Manufacturing CAD & Development Engineers.
• Assign and prioritize engineering activities to meet project milestones.
• Promote engineering best practices, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Support technical reviews and provide guidance on engineering decisions.
• Develop and standardize manufacturing processes and engineering documentation.
• Apply Design for Excellence (DfX) principles to improve manufacturability and production efficiency.
• Define manufacturing strategies that support production scalability and product quality.
• Ensure manufacturing solutions meet technical, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Lead the design, development, validation, and lifecycle management of tooling, fixtures, and Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE).
• Ensure tooling solutions are production-ready and support assembly, integration, and testing activities.
• Coordinate fabrication, procurement, and qualification of manufacturing tooling.
• Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new products and programs.
• Ensure manufacturing processes, tooling, facilities, documentation, and resources are available before production.
• Identify manufacturing risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Support Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR) and production readiness assessments.
• Lead root cause investigations for manufacturing issues and non-conformances.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve quality, efficiency, safety, and cycle time.
• Use manufacturing metrics and data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with Design Engineering, AIT, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, and Program Management teams.
• Support supplier and customer technical discussions related to manufacturing activities.
• Ensure manufacturability considerations are incorporated throughout product development.
• Contribute to successful program execution from development through production.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading technical engineering teams or manufacturing development activities.
• Experience developing manufacturing processes, work instructions, and production documentation.
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA), and Design for Excellence (DfX) principles.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience in satellite Assembly, Integration & Test (AIT) or aerospace manufacturing.
• Proficiency with one or more CAD platforms such as SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM, Siemens NX, CATIA, Creo, or AutoCAD .
• Knowledge of aerospace and space industry standards such as NASA, ECSS, ISO, MIL-STD, IPC, or J-STD .
• Experience designing or supporting MGSE, tooling, fixtures, and Test/EGSE .
• Experience performing root cause analysis and troubleshooting manufacturing issues.
• Knowledge of machining processes, manufacturing methods, and material selection.
• Certification, knowledge, or practical experience working with heavy equipment such as cranes, forklifts, lifting devices, or rigging operations.
• Experience working within cross-functional engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Experience leading manufacturing readiness or production readiness reviews.
• Experience supporting low-volume to high-volume production transitions.
• Knowledge of automation, robotics, or smart manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Familiarity with ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
• Experience working with external suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping technologies.
• Project management or technical program leadership experience.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience working in a fast-paced space or aerospace startup environment.
• Familiarity with configuration management and engineering change processes (ECR/ECO/ECN).
• Understanding of risk management methodologies such as FMEA and PFMEA.
• Experience with qualification, verification, and validation of manufacturing tooling and equipment.