Manufacturing Engineer ll

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Columbia Falls (MT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nomad Global Communication Solutions (Nomad GCS) is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support design-for-manufacturability and production-ready tooling. You will review designs, edit CAD drawings in SolidWorks, and help develop standard work and manufacturing processes to ensure safety, quality, and scalability.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with Engineering and Production, with travel as needed and opportunities for growth within Nomad’s manufacturing organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering or related field; ABET preferred.
• 2–5 years of manufacturing or mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience with SolidWorks modeling, drawings, and file management.
• ERP software experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Review designs for manufacturability during design and production.
• Use SolidWorks to create/edit production-ready designs.
• Develop and edit CAD drawings; enforce DFM documentation standards.
• Develop and maintain standard work documentation.
• Develop, implement, and improve manufacturing processes.
• Support production through training on standard processes.
• Troubleshoot build issues and clarify engineering intent.
• Create fixtures and tooling using hand tools and CNC.
• Conduct testing and document results.
• Analyze change requests; assess schedule and cost impact.
• Liaise between Engineering and Production; drive safety and quality improvements.
• Travel as needed.

Skills

DFM principles

Tolerance analysis

Tooling and fixture design

SolidWorks

CAMWorks or equivalent

ERP software

MS Office

Shop equipment handling

Education

Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks (modeling, drawings)

CAMWorks or equivalent

ERP software

CAD file management

Job description

Overview: Nomad Global Communication Solutions (Nomad GCS) is a leading provider of communication and response products serving a wide variety of customers. Our purpose is to be the solution when every minute matters. We seek a candidate that is self-inspired to learn and demonstrates a high degree of customer service while positively contributing to our team.

The Manufacturing Engineers (MFEs) at Nomad GCS play a crucial role in supporting the engineering and production processes by identifying and planning for the design, process, and tooling challenges that arise during production. This position requires extensive product knowledge, strong problem-solving abilities, and a proactive approach to resolving issues. MFEs will collaborate on new projects within the broader engineering scope, including outside their primary areas of expertise. Being able to learn on-the-fly is required. All solutions must adhere to or exceed Nomad’s standards of safety, efficiency, quality, and scalability.

Career Growth: Advancement is supported through hands-on project ownership, cross-functional collaboration, mentorship, and alignment with Nomad’s Core Values. Manufacturing Engineers at Nomad GCS progress through five levels based on:

• DFM execution and design risk mitigation
• Tooling, fixture, and process architecture
• Change control ownership and impact modeling
• Production issue resolution and prevention
• Cross-platform manufacturability improvement
• Production efficiency and cost optimization
• Technical mentorship and leadership

Organizational Structure: Nomad Engineering is organized into Teams and Disciplines within the Innovative Solutions Division.

• Teams:
  • Team 1 - Standards and Modularity: Builds and maintains engineering standards, modules, templates, and rules enabling repeatability and scale.
  • Team 2 - Design: Executes project-level engineering using established standards and less complex custom configurations.
  • Team 3 - Advanced: Develops novel systems and resolves first-of-kind engineering challenges.
  • Team 4 - Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering: Ensures manufacturability, safety, engineering intent, efficiency, and continuous improvement throughout Production.
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering (MFE)

MFEs operate primarily within Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering (Team 4) while also supporting:

• ISG - Standards & Modularity (Team 1)
• ISG - Advanced Engineering (Team 3)
• Production – assigned Project/team support on the floor
• Supply Chain
  • Quality Assurance

Team 4 contains both MFEs and IEs. These roles are differentiated in that the MFEs are to focus on how we build the product correctly and repeatably, whereas the IEs are to focus on how we build it efficiently and at scale.

Basic Knowledge Desired – All Levels:

• Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds.
• Mechanical design fundamentals including tolerance stack-up, fit, and functional intent.
• Manufacturing processes including welding (steel and aluminum), machining, grinding, routing, cutting, and mechanical assembly.
• Tooling and fixture design concepts for repeatability, safety, and production efficiency.
• Raw material selection, fabrication methods, and production cost considerations.
• Interpretation and creation of precision technical drawings and digital models.
• CAD proficiency (SolidWorks required) including modeling, drawing release, and file management.
• CAM familiarity (CAMWorks or equivalent preferred).
• ERP systems and change control processes (CR/CO workflow).
• Standard manufacturing documentation practices and revision control.
• Root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methods.
• Competency in business and engineering software (MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Hands‑on experience with woodworking, metalwork and shop equipment (manual + CNC).
• Ability to communicate effectively between Engineering and Production teams.
• Demonstrated alignment with Nomad Core Values.

Core Responsibilities – All Levels:

• Review designs for manufacturability (DFM) during digital design and physical construction.
• Use software (SolidWorks) to create/edit designs to be used in final production.
• Develop and edit CAD drawings and train Engineering proper/consistent documentation for DFM.
• Develop and maintain standard work documentation .
• Develop, implement, and improve manufacturing processes.
• Support production through training them on standard manufacturing processes.
• Support production by troubleshooting build issues and clarifying engineering intent.
• Create and maintain fixtures and tooling designs using hand tools and shop machinery (manual + CNC).
• Conduct testing and validation, formally documenting results.
• Analyze CR/COs and assess impact to schedule and costs.
• Serve as liaison between Engineering and Production.
• Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, efficiency, and standardization.
• Handle and prioritize multiple project requests at the same time.
• Be willing to travel as needed by Management.
• Uphold and model Nomad Core Values.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Basic Knowledge Progression:

• Level I: Foundational understanding of DFM, shop processes, and documentation standards
• Level II: Strong working knowledge of tooling, tolerance analysis, ERP change control, and production troubleshooting
• Level III: System-level manufacturability expertise and production risk mitigation
• Level IV: Platform-level manufacturing architecture and cross-functional leadership
• Level V: Enterprise-level manufacturing strategy, scalability, and innovation leadership

Manufacturing Engineer 10 – Independent Contributor

• Independently perform DFM reviews for small to mid‑sized assemblies.
• Develop and maintain standard work documentation .
• Design and implement moderate‑complexity tooling and fixtures.
• Analyze Change Requests and prepare impact summaries for approval.
• Support production troubleshooting with minimal oversight.
• Conduct and document formal test setups and validation procedures.
• Improve manufacturing documentation clarity and standardization.
• Estimate engineering effort and manage assigned priorities.
• 2–5 years manufacturing or mechanical engineering experience.

Visual Progression Ladder:

Level

Scope

Authority

Impact

I

Task‑Level

Learns standards

Reduces rework

II

III

System‑Level

Technical mentor

IV

Platform‑Level

Technical authority

Standardizes manufacturing

V

Enterprise‑Level

Strategic leader

Shapes how Nomad builds

Experience and Skills

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering or related field – ABET accredited preferred
• 2–5 years manufacturing or mechanical engineering experience.
• Equivalent education and experience may be considered
• Experience with SolidWorks modeling, drawings, and file management
• Experience with ERP software in a manufacturing environment

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand and sit for extended periods.
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Manual dexterity to operate office and manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to speak and hear.
• Vision requirements include close and distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Ability to work in office, shop, and vehicle environments as needed.
• Ability to work safely around energized systems when required.
• Must be able to travel as needed on occasion.
• Combination of office, production floor, vehicle‑based, and exterior environments
• Exposure to manufacturing noise, electrical equipment, and testing environments
• PPE required when entering production or testing areas
• Exposure to household and commercial chemicals
• Everyday workwear must be business casual/smart casual, appropriate for the office environment, including when traveling and working off‑site.
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time‑Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.