Manufacturing Engineer (Engineer / Senior / Staff)

Deterrence Defense, Inc.; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Deterrence Defense, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer in Fremont, CA to develop, deploy, and scale production processes and equipment. The role owns processes end-to-end, from requirements through ramp, ensuring safe, reliable, and high-rate output on the shop floor.

The candidate will handle electromechanical and process problems, with scope and independence scaling with level. Multiple engineers across levels are being hired to support growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Chemical, or related field.
• 2+ years (Engineer), 5+ years (Senior), 7+ years (Staff) in manufacturing or process engineering.
• Troubleshoot electromechanical equipment.
• Experience with equipment commissioning, validation, and acceptance.
• PLCs, HMIs, and automation debugging knowledge.
• Ability to travel to supplier and production sites as required.

Responsibilities

• Own development, installation, and ramp of manufacturing processes and automated equipment.
• Develop process flows, cycle-time models, line balancing, and station-level specifications; define performance metrics.
• Lead PFMEA, control plans, and process validation; establish SPC and Cp/Cpk on critical characteristics.
• Write equipment specifications; work with suppliers and internal design teams through design reviews.
• Lead FAT/SAT, commissioning, and equipment acceptance.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis across mechanical, electrical, controls, and process domains; implement permanent corrective actions.
• Develop work instructions, operating procedures, maintenance plans, and critical spares lists.
• Improve throughput, yield, and reliability through data‑driven experimentation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure processes and equipment meet ergonomic, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Troubleshooting

PLCs & HMIs

Automation debugging

Data-driven analysis

Electromechanical

Education

Bachelor's in engineering

Tools

DOE

SPC

Gage R&R

OEE tracking

Job description

Fremont, CA

Manufacturing Engineer

Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer develops, deploys, and scales production processes and the equipment that runs them. This role owns assigned processes end to end — requirements, equipment specification, validation, commissioning, and ramp — and ensures they run safely, reliably, and at rate. The ideal candidate has personally brought a production process from development to stable output and is comfortable solving electromechanical and process problems on the floor. We are hiring multiple engineers across levels; scope and independence scale with level.

Key Responsibilities

• Own development, installation, and ramp of manufacturing processes and automated equipment.
• Develop process flows, cycle-time models, line balancing, and station-level specifications; define performance metrics.
• Lead PFMEA, control plans, and process validation; establish SPC and capability (Cp/Cpk) on critical characteristics.
• Write equipment specifications; work with suppliers and internal design teams through design reviews and acceptance.
• Lead FAT/SAT, commissioning, and equipment acceptance.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis across mechanical, electrical, controls, and process domains; close to permanent corrective action.
• Develop work instructions, operating procedures, maintenance plans, and critical spares lists.
• Improve throughput, yield, and reliability through data‑driven experimentation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure processes and equipment meet ergonomic, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Chemical, or related engineering field.
• Engineer: 2+ years · Senior: 5+ years · Staff: 7+ years in manufacturing or process engineering in high‑volume or high‑precision production.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex electromechanical equipment.
• Experience with equipment commissioning, validation, and acceptance.
• Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, and automation debugging.
• Ability to travel to supplier and production sites as required.

Level Expectations

Staff additionally owns the process architecture for a program, leads supplier and design reviews, and mentors engineers.

Preferred Skills

• DOE, SPC, Gage R&R, OEE tracking, and yield analysis.
• Structured RCA: 8D, A3, DMAIC, Ishikawa, Five Whys.
• Forging, CNC machining, heat treatment, welding, filling and pressing, or mechanical assembly processes.
• Hazardous‑materials or energetics process experience.
• Supplier qualification and vendor management.