Lead Space Optics Manufacturing Engineer

TRL11; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Health care plan (Medical, Dental &amp

Unlimited PTO

Stock option plan participation

Job summary

TRL11 in Irvine, CA seeks a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to lead development and improvement for electro-optical space systems, translating designs into robust manufacturing processes and coordinating with cross-functional teams.

You will own factory-floor layouts, tooling, MES integration, and nonconformance investigations, driving quality, yield, and throughput while transitioning products from development to repeatable production.

Qualifications

• 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.

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

Skills

Cross-functional communication

GD&T knowledge

BOMs & config control

Tooling & fixtures

Digital manufacturing

NCCR investigations

Production documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

MES/ERP/PLM systems

Job description

TRL11 in Irvine, CA seeks a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to lead development and improvement for electro-optical space systems, translating designs into robust manufacturing processes and coordinating with cross-functional teams.

You will own factory-floor layouts, tooling, MES integration, and nonconformance investigations, driving quality, yield, and throughput while transitioning products from development to repeatable production.