Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

We are seeking an exceptional Manufacturing Engineer to help build, test, qualify, and produce next-generation spacecraft. In this role, you apply innovative solutions and advanced technologies to solve complex manufacturing and engineering challenges at both the system and component levels. You partner closely with cross-functional teams to drive the seamless transition from development to production, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and reliability in a low-rate, high-complexity manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact for production-related issues, ensuring rapid resolution of problems and implementation of robust long-term corrective actions.
• Manage non-conforming materials within production, including reviewing and approving nonconforming material (NCs/MRBs) and coordinating appropriate disposition.
• Lead structured root cause investigations using problem-solving techniques such as Fishbone Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, and DMAIC to address production and quality issues.
• Create, update, and maintain shop orders, work instructions, and standard operating procedures to support continuous and reliable production flow.
• Develop and maintain troubleshooting documentation for production test hardware to enable efficient triage and repair of issues.
• Collaborate closely with design, quality, and test engineering teams to support both development and production programs and ensure manufacturability and testability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, and other Operational Excellence methodologies to enhance processes, yield, and throughput.
• Support integration, testing, and troubleshooting of mechanical and electronic systems at component, subsystem, and system levels.
• Contribute to process improvement activities across manufacturing processes, including assembly, bill of material accuracy, and technical documentation quality.
• Participate in or support automated manufacturing processes and test methods, helping to optimize production efficiency and reliability.
• Assist with functional testing and environmental testing activities, such as thermal, acoustic, and vibration tests, to qualify spacecraft hardware.
• Produce clear technical documentation, including test plans, standard operating procedures, work instructions, and troubleshooting guides to support production teams.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing and approving nonconforming material (NCs/MRBs) within a production environment.
• Experience working in low-rate, high-complexity manufacturing environments, ideally involving complex assemblies or aerospace hardware.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles, including 5S, and Six Sigma methodologies for continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis tools such as Fishbone Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, and DMAIC.
• Experience creating and updating work instructions and standard operating procedures for production operations.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, quality control practices, and production systems.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing engineering, testing, troubleshooting, and triage of production issues.
• Ability to develop and manage corrective action plans and oversee the resolution of non-conformance in production.
• Competence in preparing and maintaining technical documentation, including shop orders, work instructions, and troubleshooting documentation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with automated manufacturing processes and test methods at component, subsystem, and system levels.
• Knowledge of QTP/ATP, functional testing, and environmental testing such as thermal, acoustic, and vibration testing.
• Strong background in electrical system design, metrology, and mechanical failure analysis.
• Demonstrated technical writing skills for documentation such as test plans, standard operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a production environment, including lean manufacturing and Six Sigma projects.
• Exposure to mixed-model assembly environments, such as satellite constellation or similar complex assembly operations.

Work Environment

This is an onsite role based in Kirkland, working in a production environment focused on building and qualifying spacecraft and related hardware. The schedule is structured around the back half of the week, with shifts typically running Thursday through Sunday. You work closely with cross-functional engineering and production teams in a hands-on setting that involves integration, testing, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes and equipment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Redmond, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $70.00/hr eligibility…