Program Engineer

Amtec Staffing; Coachella (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Amtec Staffing seeks a Program Engineer to act as the primary technical contact within program teams, bridging engineering, operations and quality leadership. You will drive product design, development, and transition to full-rate production while pushing Lean, DFM/DFA, and SPC to optimize manufacturing performance.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years in production/manufacturing plus 5+ years in NPI or defense-related product development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related science field.
• 5+ years in a production/manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years in New Product Introduction (NPI) within defense or similar industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead product design, development, and transition to full-rate production.
• Apply Lean, DFM/DFA, and SPC to optimize output and reduce scrap.
• Perform failure analysis using FMEA, 8D, and DOE methods.
• Collaborate with operations, quality, procurement, and customers.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory commitments and safety guidelines.

Skills

DFM

DFA

Design for Six Sigma

Failure analysis (8D/FMEA)

Statistical data modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location: Coachella, CA (Must be willing to work on-site; Relocation Assistance is provided)

Schedule: 4/10 Work Week (Monday – Thursday)

Role Summary

The Program Engineer serves as the primary technical point of contact within assigned program teams, bridging engineering, operations, and quality leadership. This role drives both existing manufacturing process improvements and New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring technical objectives, safety standards, and project metrics are consistently met.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Project Management: Lead product design, development, and transition into full-rate production. Manage project schedules, technology roadmaps, technical cost estimates, and risk assessments.
• Process Optimization & Lean Manufacturing: Apply Lean, DFM/DFA, and Statistical Process Control (SPC) to optimize output, minimize scrap, reduce downtime, and lower material costs.
• Root Cause & Troubleshooting: Perform failure analysis using FMEA, 8D, and DOE methods to resolve production issues and prevent recurrence.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with operations, quality assurance, procurement, and external customer teams. Support proposal development, BOM creation, and maintenance procedures.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure all processes, changes (via MOC), and products comply with strict regulatory commitments, industry standards, and company ethical guidelines.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, or Materials Science.
• Experience:
• 5+ years of engineering experience in a production/manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of experience in New Product Introduction (NPI)/product development (defense industry preferred).
• Technical Mastery: Strong command of DFM, DFA, Design for Six Sigma, failure analysis (8D, FMEA), and statistical data modeling.
• Compliance Requirement: Must be a U.S. Person authorized to work in the U.S. to conform with U.S. export control (ITAR) regulations.