Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Socket.dev; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

LeoLabs in Menlo Park, CA, seeks a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to bridge design and production for radar hardware. You’ll develop scalable manufacturing processes and documentation, working with design, supply chain, and contract manufacturers to move prototypes into production.

The role focuses on DFM, NPI execution, and tooling development, with hands-on engineering and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level engineering degree required with strong manufacturing background.
• Experience leading DFM reviews across hardware development lifecycles.
• Proven ability to create production-ready documentation and workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead DFM reviews for active hardware programs throughout development.
• Develop manufacturing processes, work instructions and assembly docs.
• Interface between Hardware Engineering and contract manufacturers.
• Support prototype builds and guide products to production release.
• Improve manufacturability and production readiness with engineering teams.

Skills

DFM

NPI experience

Manufacturing eng

Cross-functional

Education

B.S. in Engineering

Tools

Arena PLM

NetSuite ERP

SolidWorks

Job description

Why LeoLabs?

At LeoLabs, we’re building the living map of activity in space. Through our proprietary global radar network and AI-enabled analytics platform, we collect millions of measurements daily on more than 25,000 objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). Our radar-powered intelligence protects billions in assets, monitors adversarial behavior, and ensures safe operations for commercial and government missions.

We’re not just building technology, we are redefining global security, safety, and transparency in space. As orbital activity accelerates and threats grow more complex, LeoLabs is a trusted partner for Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Satellite Operations for top-tier space operators and allied defense organizations.

If you’re looking to work on mission-critical challenges at the forefront of aerospace, national security, and AI, your impact starts here.

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will help bridge the gap between engineering and production, ensuring our hardware is designed for efficient, repeatable manufacturing. You will work closely with design engineers, supply chain, and contract manufacturers to develop production processes, improve manufacturability, and guide new products from prototype builds into production. This is a hands‑on role for an engineer who enjoys solving practical problems and building manufacturing systems that scale.

You will support manufacturing across printed circuit board assemblies, electromechanical systems, and complex radar hardware while helping establish the processes, documentation, and workflows that enable reliable production. This is a full-time, onsite position based in Menlo Park, California.

You will be responsible for:

• Lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews throughout the hardware development lifecycle
• Develop manufacturing processes, work instructions, and assembly documentation for complex radar hardware
• Serve as the primary technical interface between Hardware Engineering and contract manufacturers
• Support prototype builds and guide products through New Product Introduction (NPI) into production
• Partner with engineering to improve manufacturability, serviceability, and production readiness of PCBAs and electromechanical assemblies
• Develop production tooling, fixtures, inspection methods, and manufacturing workflows
• Support root cause investigations and implement process improvements that improve quality, yield, and throughput
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to ensure manufacturing documentation, BOMs, and production releases are complete and accurate
• Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing processes, documentation, and factory readiness

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 7+ years of experience supporting the manufacture of complex electronic or electromechanical products
• Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles for PCBAs and mechanical assemblies
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) from prototype through production
• Working knowledge of PCB fabrication, SMT assembly, panelization, IPC workmanship standards, and electronics manufacturing processes
• Experience creating manufacturing documentation, assembly instructions, and production workflows
• Familiarity with Arena or another PLM system, NetSuite or another ERP system, and SolidWorks
• Excellent communication skills with experience working across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and external suppliers
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. personnel security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting low- to medium-volume production of complex hardware systems
• Experience working directly with contract manufacturers and electronics suppliers
• Familiarity with PCB test strategies, fixture development, and manufacturing validation
• Experience with root cause analysis, process validation, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, or other high-reliability hardware products
• Experience developing scalable manufacturing processes in a fast‑paced engineering environment

Within 1 month, you’ll:

• Complete onboarding and become familiar with LeoLabs' products, manufacturing workflows, and hardware development process
• Learn our existing production processes, contract manufacturers, and documentation systems
• Begin supporting active prototype and production builds

Within 3 months, you’ll:

• Lead DFM reviews for active hardware programs
• Develop manufacturing documentation and assembly processes for new products
• Establish working relationships with our contract manufacturers and key suppliers

Within 6 months, you’ll:

• Drive multiple products through prototype builds and into production
• Improve manufacturing workflows, documentation, and production readiness across the Hardware Engineering organization
• Become the technical lead for manufacturing process development on new hardware programs

Within 12 months, you’ll:

• Lead manufacturing engineering activities across multiple radar development programs
• Deliver scalable production processes that improve quality, yield, and manufacturability
• Establish yourself as the technical authority on how LeoLabs designs hardware for efficient manufacturing and long‑term production success

Compensation

Salary offers are based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, and location. The base salary range for this position $148,000 + bonus + stock options + benefits

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. More information regarding ITAR can be found at DDTC’s website