Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Vehicle Assembly

Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

Mach Industries is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to own the Vehicle Assembly system and production launch for our autonomous defense vehicles. You will deliver the factory designs, stations, tooling, conveyance, and automation needed to go from late-stage prototype builds to full-rate production at Mach's Forge factories, at world-class first-pass yield and production rates.

As a technical lead for vehicle assembly, you'll work closely with Build Engineering, Design Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Quality, Automation Engineering, Supply Chain, Material Flow, and outside equipment vendors. This is a hands‑on technical role with direct reports. You'll shape product designs early, lead builds and production ramps, and mentor a growing team of manufacturing engineers. This role suits an engineer who takes full ownership, solves problems from first principles, and moves quickly without compromising safety or quality.

• Serve as an extreme owner of the production launch, from late-stage prototype builds through full-rate production. Own the integrated launch schedule, the readiness criteria for each build phase, and the go/no-go recommendation for each build.
• Run regular launch-readiness reviews using a shared schedule and risk register that covers every team. Make sure each open item has an owner, due date, and recovery plan.
• Find risks to the ramp early, such as late design changes, part shortages, or equipment delays. Put mitigation or containment in place before they affect production, using options such as interim tooling, manual processes, or changes to build sequence.
• Give leadership clear, data-based updates on launch status. Escalate unresolved risks with their impact, the options, and a recommendation.
• Own the launch outcome. Make sure the line reaches its rate, quality, and cost targets on schedule, and lead the recovery when it falls short.

• Lead design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/A) reviews at the part, assembly, and system level. Drive part-count reduction, simpler assembly, error-proofing (poka-yoke), built-in quality, and lower cost into vehicle designs.
• Run virtual builds with cross-functional teams to check assembly sequence, hand and tool clearance, GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and part presentation. Support these reviews with static and kinematic assembly simulations.

• Define the Vehicle Assembly system, including sequence, station content, line balance, cycle time, and headcount and equipment capacity. Record in a linked manufacturing bill of materials (MBoM), bill of process (BoP), and bill of equipment (BoE).
• Lead make‑vs‑buy studies with Supply Chain to secure suppliers that can deliver at rate and keep parts arriving on time.
• Estimate cycle times with predetermined motion time systems (MODAPTS, MOST, or MTM), and design stations that meet NIOSH ergonomic guidelines.
• Develop Vehicle Assembly line layouts…