Manufacturing Engineer - NPI, DFM & Lean

Aptiv; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aptiv is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to bridge Design Engineering and Operations, translating designs into efficient, repeatable production processes. You will design workflows, create tools and fixtures, and lead continuous improvement on a high-mix/low-volume floor.

The role reports to the Engineering Manager and requires hands-on leadership, tool design, and process optimization across manufacturing teams, with a strong emphasis on DFM and Lean initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 3–5 years of manufacturing engineering experience in mil/aero, space, or medical device industry.
• Experience in cable and harness assembly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical support for the production team, leading troubleshooting for manufacturing processes.
• Design, develop, and implement tools, fixtures, and production aids to improve quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Create and maintain manufacturing work instructions, process sheets, and production routers in the ERP system.
• Lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews with engineering to optimize designs for production.
• Manage the NPI process from prototype to full production from an operations perspective.
• Lead Lean/Kaizen events to optimize workflow and reduce waste.
• Partner with Quality to conduct RCCA investigations for manufacturing issues.
• Define and validate process times and labor standards to support estimating and planning.
• Provide training on new processes and equipment to production leads and assemblers.

Skills

Lean / Kaizen

DFM

Reading drawings

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Syspro

Job description

Aptiv is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to bridge Design Engineering and Operations, translating designs into efficient, repeatable production processes. You will design workflows, create tools and fixtures, and lead continuous improvement on a high-mix/low-volume floor.

The role reports to the Engineering Manager and requires hands-on leadership, tool design, and process optimization across manufacturing teams, with a strong emphasis on DFM and Lean initiatives.