Lead Production Engineer Cypress, California,

Lead Production Engineer

At Senra Systems, we believe the future of manufacturing lies not in automation but in configuration. We supercharge electrical wire harness manufacturing through software configuration, transforming skilled assembly tasks into high‑throughput production lines. We enable customers to design what they want, when they want it, and deliver harness builds at record‑breaking speed.

We’re building a dedicated Production Engineering function from the ground up, and we need a leader to own it. The Lead Production Engineer will define day‑to‑day operations, hire and develop a team of Production Engineers, and act as the bridge between Production and Manufacturing Engineering. It’s a player‑coach role—carry your own technical workload while growing the people around you.

• Hire, onboard, and develop a team of Production Engineers; set clear performance expectations and build a high‑accountability team culture
• Hold regular 1:1s with your team; understand their development goals and actively create growth opportunities
• Define escalation paths clearly—what PEs handle, what comes to you, and what goes to ME or Quality

• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex production issues, difficult NCR dispositions, and critical first‑article reviews
• Maintain a hands‑on presence; this role leads from the floor, not from a desk
• Own first‑article sign‑off for the PE team; review and approve PE‑initiated dispositions before release
• Own the working relationship between Production Engineering and the ME organization; represent production needs in engineering planning conversations
• Ensure documentation issues (redlines, work‑instruction gaps, form‑board errors) are tracked, communicated, and resolved with the ME team within defined SLAs
• Provide structured feedback to ME leads on recurring documentation or DFM issues surfaced during production

• Own PE team NCR disposition SLA performance; track aging and report weekly to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager
• Drive root cause and corrective action on repeat non‑conformances; close the loop with production and quality
• Partner with Quality on workmanship trends, inspection holds, and systemic issues requiring cross‑functional action

• Oversee kit verification processes and ensure the PE team is catching discrepancies before they reach the floor
• Identify systemic kitting gaps and/escalate to ME and supply chain with data‑backed recommendations

• Track and report PE team performance weekly: NCR disposition SLA, first‑article cycle time, open issue aging
• Provide commentary on trends, risks, and improvement actions—not just raw numbers

• Define and document how Production Engineering operates at Senra—standard workflows, escalation paths, and hand‑off protocols with ME—particularly as Factory Two scales up
• Identify and lead targeted process improvement initiatives that reduce rework, floor disruptions, or NCR volume

• 5+ years in wire harness or cable assembly manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a senior, lead, or manager‑level role
• Deep knowledge of wire harness assembly processes: wire prep, crimping, soldering, backshell assembly, harness routing, and electrical testing
• Strong working knowledge of IPC/WHMA‑A‑620 workmanship standards; CIS or CIT certification preferred
• Experience managing or mentoring engineers or technicians with measurable results
• Ability to read and interpret complex wiring diagrams, schematics, assembly drawings, and specifications
• Strong verbal communicator—comfortable working with technicians, supervisors, and cross‑functional engineers in the same conversation
• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident)

• Experience in an aerospace or defense contract manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with NASA 8739.4 and IPC/WHMA‑A‑620 space addendum workmanship requirements
• Experience with MIL‑spec connectors and contacts across multiple connector families
• Experience supporting facility scale‑up, production line bring‑up, or new product introduction in a high‑mix…