Manufacturing Engineer (VAVE) — Cost Reduction Leader

PeerSource; California; On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

PeerSource is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer (VAVE) in Ventura County, CA, to drive cost reduction and process improvements across design, manufacturing, and supplier operations. You will collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Operations, and Quality to implement cost-saving opportunities through design optimization and sourcing strategies.

The role blends hands-on engineering with project leadership, delivering measurable financial and operational improvements and supporting

Qualifications

• 6+ years of hands-on engineering experience in product design, development, and manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading VAVE, DTC, DFM, and DFA initiatives with measurable cost savings or business improvements.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, design optimization, cost analysis, and supplier qualification including Make/Buy and alternative sourcing evaluations.
• Experience with design verification, process verification and validation, design controls, engineering change management, and risk assessments (DFMEA and PFMEA).
• Proficiency in developing and interpreting 2D/3D CAD models, engineering drawings, specs, and Bills of Materials.
• Experience in GMP or laboratory environments with documentation and quality compliance.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills; ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Travel up to 10%, including occasional international supplier visits.

Responsibilities

• Lead Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) initiatives focused on Design-to-Cost (DTC), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and overall product cost reduction.
• Partner with Procurement and Finance to identify, evaluate, and prioritize cost-saving opportunities, develop business cases, and track realized savings and cost avoidance.
• Manage engineering projects involving in-sourcing, second-sourcing, and Make/Buy decisions, including project planning, financial justification, and implementation.
• Evaluate product designs, specifications, drawings, and BOMs to identify opportunities to reduce material costs, manufacturing expenses, and lead times.
• Lead design verification, process validation, and production transfer activities with product and manufacturing changes.
• Identify and implement manufacturing process improvements to increase yields, reduce variability, optimize labor efficiency, and resolve technical challenges.
• Support capital equipment selection, justification, procurement, and qualification to improve manufacturing capabilities and efficiency.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to implement alternative materials, components, designs, and processes while maintaining quality and supply chain reliability.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including drawings, BOMs, validation protocols, technical reports, and engineering change controls.

Skills

VAVE

DTC

DFM

DFA

cost reduction

design optimization

project leadership

manufacturing processes

BOMs

engineering change management

DFMEA/PFMEA

CAD (2D/3D)

GMP experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related field

Tools

CAD software

Job description

PeerSource is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer (VAVE) in Ventura County, CA, to drive cost reduction and process improvements across design, manufacturing, and supplier operations. You will collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Operations, and Quality to implement cost-saving opportunities through design optimization and sourcing strategies.

The role blends hands-on engineering with project leadership, delivering measurable financial and operational improvements and supporting