Manufacturing Engineer - Space

Final Frontier Manufacturing; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top 25% compensation and benefits

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Free hot breakfast and lunch daily

Collaborative culture and modern tools

Job summary

A space manufacturing startup in Denver seeks an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to define processes and systems in high-tech environments. This role emphasizes innovative problem-solving for complex manufacturing challenges, automation, and collaboration with multiple teams. The position offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a tangible impact on aerospace hardware. Ideal candidates will have experience in manufacturing engineering, a solid understanding of CAM programming, and a passion for building efficient systems.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing engineering processes and automation.
• Ability to design fixtures and automation equipment.
• Experience with AI-assisted toolpath strategy and process planning.

Responsibilities

• Architect processes and digital systems for modern space hardware.
• Lead designs for complex components, ensuring stable manufacturing strategies.
• Collaborate across teams to optimize workflow and production efficiency.

Skills

Process design for manufacturing

Automation and digital systems

CAM programming (Mastercam, or equivalent)

Collaboration with cross-functional teams

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Mastercam

UR / FANUC CRX

Job description

Final Frontier Manufacturingis acollaborative team of engineers and buildersturning designs into flight hardware—fast. We’re a precision‑machining startup for space (rockets + satellites), building the factory that builds the parts. We constantly experiment with and deploy new technology that makes us faster, more capable, and more precise.

Founded in 2022, we’ve shipped$15M+of product in just three years and growth is accelerating. We're a small team with high talent density—you’ll join as our 5th full‑time Manufacturing Engineer and have a big impact every day.

If you’re coming from a larger company and want tomove faster, own outcomes end‑to‑end, and ship real hardware, this is that opportunity. You’ll work across multiple top‑tier (confidential) space programs—diverse materials, geometries, and manufacturing processes—while helping drive the broader reindustrialization of U.S. manufacturing.

What You’ll Do

Build the Factory Behind the Space Industry

At Final Frontier, manufacturing engineering isn’t a support function—it’s the engine. You’ll architect processes, automation, and digital systems that define how modern space hardware is made. This role blends deep technical execution with creative problem‑solving and a bias for action.

• Lead process design for complex, high‑value components and assemblies—turning challenging geometry and tight tolerances into stable, repeatable manufacturing strategies.
• Develop process flows, risk‑based plans, tooling concepts, and documentation that actually help the floor move faster.
• Collaborate with the toolroom to design fixtures that minimize setup and maximize repeatability.
• Partner with Production, Quality, Purchasing, and Operations to translate engineering intent into scalable workflows.
• Integrate automation and data: push toward lights‑out machining, optimize cycle time and tool life, and close the loop with analytics.
• Program and refine CAM (Mastercam, or equivalent) for 3‑ to 5‑axis and mill/turn parts—balancing precision, efficiency, and consistency.
• Launch and iterate: prove‑outs, setup sheets, and continuous improvement alongside machinists, QA, and toolroom.

Beyond Parts — Shape the Next Phase of Final Frontier

These initiatives tie directly into our mission of building the factory that builds the parts—advancing the systems, automation, and digital backbone that power the space industry.

Manufacturing at Final Frontier extends well beyond part production. You’ll help design the systems, tools, and infrastructure that will define our next chapter:

• Cobot machine tending expansionon our existing automation (UR / FANUC CRX): gripper/tooling selection, cell layout, changeover, and safety.
• AI in CAM and process planning:piloting AI‑assisted toolpath strategy selection, template generation, and verification workflows.
• CMMC cybersecurity audit:implement practical digital traveler, access control, and traceability systems with engineering input.
• New facility design(larger footprint): contribute to floor layout, material flow, utilities, metrology labs, tool crib, and automation cell design—engineered for high‑mix throughput.

You’ll keep a hand in production launches while leading these platform‑level projects—high leverage, high learning, high impact.

You Might Be a Fit If

You’re the kind of engineer who gets restless waiting for decisions and would rather make things happen. You think in systems, not tasks. You see a design and immediately picture the fixture, the setup, the toolpath, and the inspection plan. You love solving technical puzzles and then hardening them into process. You care about rigor but hate bureaucracy. You want to work with people who can argue well, then roll up their sleeves and build together.

If that sounds like you, you’ll feel right at home here.

What We Offer

We’re looking for people who want to help build the modern factory for space hardware. It\'s a challenging mission and we pay well so you can focus on doing your best work.

• Top 25% compensation and benefits.
• Medical/dental/vision, 401(k), PTO, holidays.
• Free hot breakfast and lunch provided daily
• Modern tools, a collaborative culture, and meaningful impact on hardware that flies.

Top‑tier customers are confidential; details shared during the process.