Lead UAV/USV Manufacturing Process Engineer

Socket.dev; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Every other Friday off

401K with company match

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Ideal Aerosmith is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer to lead the development, optimization, and scaling of system-level integration and production processes for UAV/USV programs. You will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure disciplined, repeatable, and production-ready manufacturing execution.

The ideal candidate has aerospace or complex electromechanical manufacturing experience, with a focus on transitioning prototypes to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related Engineering.
• 7–12+ years in aerospace or complex electromechanical manufacturing environments.
• Experience scaling products from prototype to production; RCCA experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing system development for new UAV production facility stand-up, including integration cell design and process governance.
• Design and implement scalable system-level integration processes across programs.
• Develop standardized production frameworks and MBOM structures.
• Define tooling, fixtures, and process control requirements; lead MBOM development.
• Lead transition from prototype to low-rate and full-rate production; drive rate readiness.
• Establish production to test handoff criteria and ensure first-pass yield at production rate.
• Provide senior-level DFM input and coordinate with Supply Chain on constraints.

Skills

Systems thinking

Troubleshooting

Leadership without authority

Documentation discipline

Fast-scaling production

Education

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

Tools

ERP

PLM

Job description

Ideal Aerosmith is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer to lead the development, optimization, and scaling of system-level integration and production processes for UAV/USV programs. You will collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure disciplined, repeatable, and production-ready manufacturing execution.

The ideal candidate has aerospace or complex electromechanical manufacturing experience, with a focus on transitioning prototypes to