Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Manufacturing Engineer III for a leading aerospace and defense manufacturer in Corona, CA specializing in large‑part forming and precision CNC machining. The Manufacturing Engineer III will provide hands‑on technical ownership across metallic fabrication, machining, and assembly operations — from early process definition and tooling development through production execution and continuous improvement. This role is embedded in the shop floor environment and serves as a key bridge between engineering and operations, ensuring quality is built into the product at every stage of manufacture.

• Support programs, products, and engineering activities including Design for Manufacturability (DFM) reviews.
• Validate and monitor fabrication and production processes, controls, and in‑process verification methods.
• Design, develop, and implement fixtures, tooling, and inspection gages to facilitate fabrication and assembly.
• Generate, track, and maintain bills of materials (BOMs), methods of manufacture, work instructions, and build packages.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing plans, control plans, and PFMEAs aligned with aerospace quality requirements.
• Support material and resource planning; coordinate with the Product team to maintain schedule adherence.
• Review and modify processes for improved flow, cycle time reduction, and cost efficiency.
• Assist with manufacturing workflow planning and space utilization.
• Partner with Operations to support daily production, troubleshoot technical issues, and drive real‑time problem resolution on the shop floor.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering to influence part design for manufacturability and machining feasibility.
• Support prototype builds and evaluate new materials and processes.
• Solve technical problems using engineering reference materials, inspection tools, and hands‑on analysis.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on scrap reduction, first‑pass yield, and process capability.
• Utilize ERP systems (Epicor) for production planning, BOM management, and workflow tracking.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or related Engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing or process engineering role within a metallic fabrication or precision machining environment.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering blueprints, drawings, and GD&T callouts, and translate them into actionable manufacturing processes, work instructions, and production‑ready build packages.
• Hands‑on experience developing and owning the full part lifecycle from raw material and print to first article and production release.
• Working knowledge of machining processes, tooling selection, speeds and feeds, fixturing, and in‑process inspection methods.
• Familiarity with metallic material properties, forming behavior, and how material selection influences process definition and part performance.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, specifically Epicor, for BOM management, production planning, and workflow tracking.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot process issues on the shop floor in real time.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working across engineering, operations, and quality functions.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen; legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship required.

• Experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing environments.
• Background in metal forming, shear forming, or thermally influenced production processes.
• Experience supporting process qualification, first article inspection, and AS9100 quality system requirements.
• Experience scaling developmental or low‑rate processes into stable, higher‑rate production.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience (certification a plus).

$135,000 - $165,000