Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Socket.dev; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) match

Paid Time Off

HSA

FSA

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space and Defense in Huntington Beach, CA, is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to ensure producibility, quality, and robust processes across the product lifecycle. You will drive DFMA, qualification, and continuous improvement, interfacing with the IPT Lead and ERP integration (Epicor).

The role demands strong mechanical aptitude, 6+ years in manufacturing engineering, blueprints reading, GD&T, and DoD secret clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong DFMA and GD&T knowledge.
• Ability to read blueprints, drawings and diagrams.
• DoD Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Lead DFMA activities as part of the product design team.
• Apply manufacturing principles to ensure producibility and robustness.
• Mentor junior manufacturing engineers and provide guidance.
• Act as SME on DFMA and statistical process controls.
• Oversee material and resource planning to keep schedules.
• Plan workflows, resources, and line capacity per forecasts.
• Resolve complex technical issues affecting design, development, production.
• Oversee process qualification and support product qualification.
• Perform duties aligned with Manufacturing Engineer I–III as needed.

Skills

DFMA expertise

Manufacturing engineering

Mentorship

Process qualification

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

We design and deliver dependable hypersonic/strategic missile defense systems; integrating multiple technologies into unified, mission-ready hardware supporting demanding environments.

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you help ensure producibility, intrinsic quality, and robust processes throughout the product lifecycle. The role influences early design, leads Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) efforts, guides process qualification, and supports continuous improvement across production. This position also defines how internal manufacturing processes are developed and validated, including ERP (Epicor) integration, and reports to the Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead.

Responsibilities

• Lead DFMA activities as an integral member of the product design team.
• Apply broad manufacturing engineering principles to ensure producibility and process robustness.
• Mentor junior manufacturing engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on DFMA and statistical process controls.
• Oversee material and resource planning to maintain production schedules.
• Plan manufacturing workflows, resource needs, and production line capacity aligned with forecasts.
• Resolve complex technical issues to support product design, development, and production continuity.
• Oversee process qualification and support product qualification activities.
• Perform duties aligned with Manufacturing Engineer I, II, and III functional responsibilities as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent years of experience.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on experience in fabrication and assembly environments.
• Ability to read and generate blueprints, drawings, and technical diagrams.
• Familiarity with material properties, in‑process verification, and validation methods.
• Proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• A current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer…