Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Beehive Industries is dedicated to Powering American Defense by revolutionizing the design, development, and delivery of jet propulsion systems to support the warfighter. Through the integration of additive manufacturing, the company aims to meet the growing and urgent needs for unmanned aerial defense by dramatically improving a jet engine’s speed to market, fuel efficiency, and cost.

Founded in 2020, the company is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, with additional facilities in Knoxville, Tennessee, Loveland Ohio, and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Beehive is committed to grow and advance the defense industrial base while manufacturing exclusively in the USA. This role will be located at our Loveland, Ohio facility.

We are seeking a Lead Manufacturing Engineer to drive process excellence and operational execution in investment casting. This role will focus on scaling production capability, implementing advanced manufacturing methods, and ensuring high-quality, repeatable output across aerospace and defense casting programs. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge of investment casting with leadership skills to mentor engineers and technicians, manage production challenges, and spearhead continuous improvement initiatives.

• Process Ownership & Leadership
• Serve as the primary technical leader for manufacturing engineering within the investment casting foundry
• Lead and mentor a team of engineers and technicians in day-to-day production problem solving, root cause analysis, and yield improvement
• Own and continuously improve processes including wax injection, ceramic shell, core handling, pouring, solidification, knockout, heat treat, machining, and inspection
• Production Excellence & Scale-Up
• Drive throughput, yield, and OEE improvements to meet delivery and cost targets
• Develop standard work, process documentation, and manufacturing best practices across operations
• Oversee scaling of production lines, tooling transitions, and introduction of new equipment
• Partner with design and simulation teams to optimize gating, riser, and mold design for manufacturability
• Introduce advanced automation, additive-enabled casting workflows, and digital foundry technologies
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Industry 4.0 practices to reduce waste and improve efficiency
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on new product introduction (NPI) and rapid prototyping initiatives
• Quality & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, Nadcap, and customer-specific quality requirements
• Lead process audits, capability studies, and PPAP/FAI deliverables
• Partner with quality engineering to reduce scrap, rework, and defect rates

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, or Metallurgical Engineering (advanced degree preferred)
• 7–10+ years of experience in investment casting or high-precision foundry operations
• Demonstrated success in scaling complex processes for aerospace or defense components
• Strong expertise in process simulation, casting metallurgy, and defect analysis
• Experience implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and digital manufacturing methods
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. Citizen ship is required, as only U.S. Citizen s are eligible for a security clearance

• Hands-on knowledge of additive-enabled mold/core technologies
• Experience with automation in shell building, pouring, or post-processing
• Familiarity with vacuum furnaces, DS/SX casting, and advanced superalloy processing
• Financial acumen to connect cost drivers with manufacturing strategies

If this sounds like you, please submit an application with your resume. This could be the opportunity you are looking for to expand your skills, contribute to a winning team, and work with talented people who love what they do and take pride in our mission.

Beehive Industries offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term disability coverage from day one. We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match. Every role at Beehive Industries is bonus eligible and will also receive equity in the company.

Beehive Industries is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.