Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Space Optics

TRL11, Inc.; Irvine, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental &amp

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Stock Option Plan

Job summary

TRL11, Inc. is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer in Irvine to lead manufacturing development for advanced electro-optical space systems. You will translate designs into repeatable processes, guide DFMA feedback, and drive product readiness from prototype to production.

Role involves factory-floor development, tooling, process documentation, and cross-functional collaboration with design, quality, and supply chain teams. Expect leadership responsibilities and a focus on continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience with complex electromechanical, optical, aerospace, or high-reliability hardware.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with nonconformance investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Strong understanding of drawings, GD&T, BOMs, configuration control, and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineering for assembly, integration, inspection, and test of electro-optical space hardware.
• Develop manufacturing processes, assembly sequences, routings, inspection points, and production controls.
• Create and maintain work instructions, travelers, manufacturing plans, and process documentation.
• Partner with design engineering to provide DFMA feedback and identify manufacturing risks.
• Design or specify tooling, fixtures, equipment, and assembly aids.
• Help develop factory-floor layouts, work cells, material flow, and production areas.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues directly with technicians and engineering teams.
• Participate in NCCR, nonconformance investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Improve manufacturing quality, yield, throughput, cycle time, and repeatability.
• Support prototype, qualification, and flight hardware through production.
• Help transition products from development into repeatable manufacturing.
• Support configuration control, traceability, and production documentation.
• Mentor manufacturing personnel and establish manufacturing best practices.
• Support MES implementation and improvement, including electronic work instructions, routings, traceability, and production data collection.

Skills

Cross-functional communication

Manufacturing processes

Root-cause analysis

DFMA feedback

GD&T

MES experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

MES

ERP

PLM

Job description

TRL11, Inc. is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer in Irvine to lead manufacturing development for advanced electro-optical space systems. You will translate designs into repeatable processes, guide DFMA feedback, and drive product readiness from prototype to production.

Role involves factory-floor development, tooling, process documentation, and cross-functional collaboration with design, quality, and supply chain teams. Expect leadership responsibilities and a focus on continuous improvement.