Manufacturing Engineer Lead

Manufacturing Engineering Lead Full-time onsite role in the San Francisco Bay Area Industry: Aerospace / Space Manufacturing & Launch Systems Partnering with a space company building lightweight propulsion and rocket systems to speed up and simplify orbital access. They focus on high-reliability hardware that must be fully traceable, rigorously tested, and ready for flight. Hiring a player-coach Manufacturing Engineering Lead to guide a small team of early-career engineers while staying deeply hands-on. You’ll develop processes, tooling, and data systems for large-scale aerospace assemblies (think 50-foot-tall rockets) where every fastener, valve, and component is tracked end-to-end. Expect to mentor, define metrics, drive DFM, and ensure production is repeatable, safe, and scalable. What you’ll do: Lead and mentor a tight group of manufacturing engineers with clear direction and technical support Build regulated, traceable processes for complex aerospace production Set up real-time data collection for in-process results, test data, and quality metrics Create detailed work instructions, process flows, and mBOMs with 100% traceability Partner with design, test, and quality teams to improve manufacturability and compliance Drive DFM reviews to boost efficiency, quality, and scalability Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for non-conformances Work side-by-side with techs to validate tooling and test setups on the floor Design or spec fixtures, automation, and data systems Represent manufacturing in PDRs, CDRs, and readiness reviews What you bring: 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, ideally aerospace or large precision assemblies Proven experience mentoring engineers while staying technical and hands-on Deep knowledge of DFM, process development, and production readiness for traceable products Skilled in capacity planning, process mapping, fault analysis, and metrics Comfortable with CAD, GD&T, and clear production documentation Strong root cause, PFMEA, and continuous improvement background Familiar with QMS and aerospace compliance standards Great at translating design intent into practical shop-floor execution Bachelor’s in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or related (or equivalent experience) Nice to have: Work on large aerospace structures like airframes or propulsion Data acquisition and manufacturing metrics systems Low-to-medium volume, high-mix precision manufacturing CMMS or MES integration Control systems, PLCs, or Python for automation Why this role: Shape the manufacturing foundation for advanced small launch vehicles Lead by doing in a hands-on shop where mentorship matters Build systems that guarantee full traceability and flight safety Work with a sharp, quality-focused team See your processes directly speed up production and enable launches Location:

San Francisco Bay Area Full-time onsite Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. Adam Slade

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