Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Turbojet Engines

Divergent; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity plan

Discretionary bonus

Paid vacation

Parental leave

Health benefits

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

Divergent, based in California, is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer for turbojet engines. You will bridge design and production, making engine concepts manufacturable, maturing processes, and ensuring quality for flight-critical propulsion hardware.

Role spans new product initiation, process optimization, and leadership of cross-functional teams to deliver on aggressive development timelines. Requires aerospace manufacturing experience and a strong CAD/GD&T background.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace/defense, with exposure to gas turbine engines or high-temperature, high-speed rotating hardware.
• Hands-on experience with precision machining of nickel superalloys (e.g., Inconel 718), titanium, or stainless steels, including 5-axis machining.
• Proficiency in CAD (Siemens NX) and GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and inspection methods (CMM, optical, surface metrology).
• Experience with MES, PLM, and ERP systems.
• Proven track record taking complex hardware from concept to production in high-reliability applications.

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing end to end for turbojet development and production programs, from components through full engine build.
• Serve as technical lead for manufacturing processes across rotating hardware, hot-section, static components, and final engine assembly.
• Develop, implement, and refine scalable processes for turbojet components (wheels, blisks, shafts, casings, combustors, nozzles, bearings).
• Drive improvements in yield, cycle time, and first-pass quality through data-driven continuous improvement.
• Establish and control special processes including heat treatment, welding, coatings, balancing, and NDT.

Skills

Technical leadership

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Process optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or related field

Tools

Siemens NX

CMM

Optical metrology

Surface metrology

Nadcap knowledge

Job description

Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Turbojet Engines

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Turbojet Engines bridges design and production for Divergent's turbojet propulsion products. You will make engine designs manufacturable, mature the processes that build them, and ensure every component and assembly meets the quality and reliability expected of flight-critical propulsion hardware. You will guide new engine concepts from prototype through qualification and into repeatable production, solving hard manufacturing problems along the way.

Depending on experience and demonstrated technical expertise, this position may be hired at the Engineer II or Senior Engineer level.

Engineers at higher levels are expected to demonstrate greater ownership of complex manufacturing programs, lead technical problem-solving efforts, drive process optimization, and provide technical guidance to cross-functional teams.

The Role

Program and Product Ownership

• Own manufacturing end to end for turbojet development and production programs, from individual components through full engine build.
• Serve as technical lead for manufacturing processes across rotating hardware, hot-section components, static components, and final engine assembly.

Process Development and Optimization

• Develop, implement, and refine scalable processes for turbojet components, such as compressor and turbine wheels, blisks, shafts, casings, combustors, nozzles, and bearing housings.
• Drive improvements in yield, cycle time, and first-pass quality through data-driven continuous improvement.
• Establish and control special processes including heat treatment, welding and brazing, balancing, coatings, and nondestructive testing.
• Track emerging technologies in additive manufacturing, advanced machining, and high-temperature materials, and bring them in where they strengthen our product and cost position.

New Product Introduction and Rapid Iteration

• Lead new engine designs through the factory, troubleshooting quickly and iterating to meet aggressive development timelines.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability early, working with design, materials, and test engineers to balance performance, cost, and producibility on tight-tolerance, high-temperature, high-rotational-speed hardware.
• Introduce new equipment, fixtures, tooling, and processes, with rigorous validation to support engine qualification.
• Support engine build, balancing, and test-cell readiness, and feed test findings back into design and process changes.

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Develop and maintain work instructions, process plans, routings, and first article inspection (AS9102) packages in compliance with AS9100.
• Ensure processes meet customer, regulatory, and internal quality system requirements, including special process controls (e.g., Nadcap) and material and process specifications.
• Lead nonconformance investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action, including MRB dispositions on critical rotating and life-limited parts.

Leadership and Team Development

• Provide technical guidance to technicians, machinists, and production staff, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Lead cross-functional program teams.
• Support the Manufacturing Engineering Department Leadership in team growth and hiring.

Basic Qualifications

• Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field.
• 2+ years (Engineer II) or 5+ years (Senior Engineer) of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace or defense, with direct exposure to gas turbine engines, turbomachinery, or comparable high-temperature, high-speed rotating hardware.
• Hands-on experience with precision machining of difficult alloys (e.g., nickel superalloys such as Inconel 718, titanium, or stainless steels), including 5-axis machining.
• Proficiency in CAD (e.g., Siemens NX) and a strong command of GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and inspection methods (CMM, optical, and surface metrology).
• Working knowledge of special processes such as heat treat, welding, coatings, and NDT (FPI, radiography, CT).
• Experience with MES, PLM, and ERP systems.
• Proven track record of taking complex hardware from concept through production in high-reliability applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with additive manufacturing of metal engine components (e.g., laser powder bed fusion), including post-processing and qualification.
• Experience with rotor balancing, turbine blade or vane manufacturing and/or engine assembly and test.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement expertise.
• Familiarity with AS9100, AS9102, and ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Experience with robotics or automation in machining, inspection, or assembly.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E04 - E05 as evaluated through our interview process.

Pay Range

$111,300 - $176,720 USD

What We Offer:

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. EEO Poster

E-Verify: Right to Work Our company participates in E-Verify . E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.

Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO) Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No agencies, no solicitations, and no calls please.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Divergent’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

*Personallyandsubstantiallymeansdirect, significant involvement in a specific matter through actions like decision-making, giving advice, investigating, or supervising subordinates who did those things, "substantially" meaning involvement of significance, not just perfunctory or peripheral contact.

**Acquisition includes: (A) the process of acquiring property or services that are already in existence, or that must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated; (B) the description of requirements to satisfy agency needs; (C) solicitation and selection of sources; (D) award of contracts; (E) contract performance; (F) contract financing; (G) management and measurement of contract performance through final delivery and payment; and (H) technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling agency requirements by contract.