Manufacturing Engineer

RPS Recruitment; Santa Clarita (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodward in Santa Clarita is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer for a contract role through December 2027. You will own and improve production processes for high-reliability aerospace products, driving continuous improvement and partnering with Engineering, Quality and Maintenance teams.

Expect to work on complex, mission-critical components while developing expertise in Lean, SPC, APQP, DFMA, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Competitive compensation and collaborative environment offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or 8+ years of equivalent Manufacturing Engineering experience.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device, or precision manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing, improving, and supporting manufacturing processes in a production environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with cross-functional work ability.

Responsibilities

• Own and improve manufacturing processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives with measurable impact on quality, efficiency, and throughput.
• Support manufacture of highly engineered, mission-critical aerospace components.
• Develop technical expertise in Lean Manufacturing, SPC, APQP, DFMA, process optimization, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams on meaningful projects.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

8+ years Manufacturing Engineering experience

Tools

SPC

Cp/Cpk

APQP

DFMA

Job description

A leading aerospace manufacturer, Woodward, is looking for a Manufacturing Engineer to join its growing engineering team in Santa Clarita.*This is a contract opportunity through December 2027, *offering the chance to work on high-reliability aerospace products while driving manufacturing excellence, improving production processes, and collaborating with experienced engineering professionals in a fast-paced, innovative environment.What's in It for You as a Manufacturing Engineer?Compensation: $85,000 – $136,000 per year, depending on experience (DOE).Own and improve manufacturing processes – Take ownership of production processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives that have a measurable impact on quality, efficiency, and throughput.Work on complex aerospace products – Support the manufacture of highly engineered, mission-critical components used in demanding aerospace applications.Develop your technical expertise – Gain hands-on experience with Lean Manufacturing, SPC, APQP, DFMA, process optimization, and advanced manufacturing technologies.Join a collaborative engineering team – Partner with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams on meaningful projects where your ideas are encouraged and your contributions make a difference.Must-Have Requirements for the Manufacturing EngineerBachelor's degree in Engineering or 8+ years of equivalent Manufacturing Engineering experience.Previous experience as a Manufacturing Engineer within aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device, or another precision manufacturing environment.Experience developing, improving, and supporting manufacturing processes in a production environment.Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work cross-functionally.Nice-to-Have Skills for the Manufacturing EngineerExperience with Statistical Process Control (SPC), Cp/Cpk, or process capability analysis.Knowledge of APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, or other quality tools.Experience with DFMA (Design for Manufacturability & Assembly).Familiarity with root cause analysis techniques such as 5 Whys or Fishbone.Experience creating manufacturing documentation, work instructions, or SOPs.If you're a Manufacturing Engineer looking for a new challenge and would like to have a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please reach out with our consultant; [e-mail], [phone].You should be proficient in:Hydraulics ExperienceNational Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP)Hydraulic Systems & ComponentsAerospace Manufacturing