Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Socket.dev; South El Monte (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off

HSA Contribution

FSA

Life and AD&D Insurance

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense is seeking an experienced manufacturing professional to support design-for-manufacturability, validate fabrication processes, and develop tooling for efficient production. You will collaborate with engineering, production, and product teams to improve workflows and reduce costs while ensuring high-quality hardware.

The role requires hands-on fabrication experience, blueprints literacy, and strong problem-solving skills. Moderate travel and U.S.

Qualifications

• Mechanical aptitude and hands-on engineering experience in fabrication/assembly.
• Ability to read blueprints, drawings, and technical diagrams.
• Familiarity with material properties, in‑process verification, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Supports design-for-manufacturability (DFM) activities and engineering programs.
• Validates and monitors fabrication processes and production controls.
• Designs, develops, and implements fixtures, tooling, and inspection gauges to support fabrication and assembly.
• Generates and maintains bills of materials, methods of manufacture, and work/build instructions.
• Coordinates material and resource planning with product teams to support schedule adherence.
• Reviews and improves manufacturing processes to enhance flow and reduce cost.
• Assists with planning manufacturing workflows and space utilization.
• Solves technical problems using reference materials and inspection tools.
• Supports prototype builds and evaluations of materials and processes.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Blueprint reading

ERP systems

Communication

Problem solving

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

APICS certification

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.

In this role, you will support manufacturing and production operations by developing efficient methods of manufacture, creating work instructions, and ensuring smooth transitions from design through full‑rate production. You will collaborate closely with engineering, production, and product teams to strengthen producibility, optimize workflows, and solve technical challenges that help deliver high‑quality hardware.

Responsibilities

• Supports design-for-manufacturability (DFM) activities and engineering programs.
• Validates and monitors fabrication processes and production controls.
• Designs, develops, and implements fixtures, tooling, and inspection gauges to support fabrication and assembly.
• Generates and maintains bills of materials, methods of manufacture, and work/build instructions.
• Coordinates material and resource planning with product teams to support schedule adherence.
• Reviews and improves manufacturing processes to enhance flow and reduce cost.
• Assists with planning manufacturing workflows and space utilization.
• Solves technical problems using reference materials and inspection tools.
• Supports prototype builds and evaluations of materials and processes.

Required Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Mechanical aptitude and hands‑on engineering experience in a fabrication or assembly environment.
• Ability to read blueprints, drawings, and technical diagrams.
• Familiarity with material properties, in‑process verification, and validation.
• Proficiency with production planning systems or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as Epicor.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• At least five years of related experience.
• Ability to read, speak, and write in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification from the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS).

Special Mentions

• Moderate travel: 10–15%.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.