Associate Manufacturing Engineer

Stealth Startup; Gardena (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A stealth-mode aerospace and defense firm based in Gardena, CA, seeks an Associate Manufacturing Engineer. In this role, you will ensure the production integrity from prototype to full-rate manufacturing. Responsibilities include implementing manufacturing processes, conducting root cause analyses for production failures, and collaborating with design engineering. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and experience with 3D CAD tools like SolidWorks. This opportunity offers a chance to contribute actively in a high-demand environment.

Qualifications

• 0-1 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, or reliability engineering.
• Proficient in 3D CAD design using SolidWorks, Creo, or similar tools.
• Solid understanding of DFM/DFA, root cause analysis, and FMEA methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement processes for reliable hardware builds.
• Lead root cause analysis for production failures.
• Collaborate with design engineering to ensure reliability.

Skills

3D CAD design

SolidWorks

Communication skills

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

NetSuite

Odoo

Arena

Job description

We are a stealth-mode Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and top-tier Silicon Valley rms. We're assembling a high urgency team committed to moving fast, solving hard problems, and defending what matters most. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand.

Role Overview

As our Associate Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll own the integrity of the production process from prototype to full-rate manufacturing. You will be the connective tissue between design, manufacturing, and quality—ensuring that our builds are repeatable, efficient, and reliable. You’ll play a critical role in developing robust manufacturing processes, executing quality assurance strategies, and continuously improving product reliability in a mission-critical environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement processes to ensure reliable hardware builds at scale.
• Participate directly in prototype and production builds to validate processes, tooling, and assembly instructions.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (RCAs and CAPAs) for production failures or field returns.
• Collaborate with design engineering to incorporate DFM/DFA best practices and ensure design-for-reliability.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing workflows, tooling, and fixtures.
• Design custom fixtures and assembly aids to improve safety, efficiency, and consistency.
• Create build documentation including work instructions, travelers, and visual aids.
• Work hands-on with technicians, assemblers, and engineers on the floor to streamline builds and resolve issues in real-time.
• Partner with contract manufacturers and internal teams to scale production.
• Define quality control and inspection plans (IQC, IPQC, OQC).
• Establish in-line and end-of-line test protocols to validate system performance.
• Implement and manage statistical process control (SPC) and process capability metrics.
• Maintain traceability and compliance with applicable quality standards and customer requirements.

Who You Are

• You thrive in ambiguity and enjoy solving hard problems with limited resources.
• You're equally comfortable on the manufacturing floor and in design review meetings.
• You believe quality and speed are not mutually exclusive.
• You take ownership and drive continuous improvement without waiting for permission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering (or similar technical field).
• 0–1 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, or reliability engineering—preferably in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability hardware environments. Prior internship experiences highly preferred.
• Prior internship experiences highly preferred.
• Proficient in 3D CAD design using SolidWorks, Creo, or similar tools—experience designing fixtures, tooling, and assembly aids is a strong plus.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical/electromechanical system builds and test setups.
• Solid understanding of DFM/DFA, root cause analysis, FMEA/PFMEA, SPC, and other reliability and quality methodologies.
• Comfortable working across ERP/MRP and PLM systems (e.g., NetSuite, Odoo, Arena).
• Strong communication skills and a bias toward action—able to thrive in a fast-paced, build-focused environment.
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.