Manufacturing Engineer (Engineer / Senior / Staff)
Deterrence Defense, Inc. · Fremont, CA
Manufacturing Engineer
Summary
The Manufacturing Engineer develops, deploys, and scales production processes and the equipment that runs them. This role owns assigned processes end to end — requirements, equipment specification, validation, commissioning, and ramp — and ensures they run safely, reliably, and at rate. The ideal candidate has personally brought a production process from development to stable output and is comfortable solving electromechanical and process problems on the floor. We are hiring multiple engineers across levels; scope and independence scale with level.
Key Responsibilities
- Own development, installation, and ramp of manufacturing processes and automated equipment.
- Develop process flows, cycle-time models, line balancing, and station-level specifications; define performance metrics.
- Lead PFMEA, control plans, and process validation; establish SPC and capability (Cp/Cpk) on critical characteristics.
- Write equipment specifications; work with suppliers and internal design teams through design reviews and acceptance.
- Lead FAT/SAT, commissioning, and equipment acceptance.
- Conduct root-cause analysis across mechanical, electrical, controls, and process domains; close to permanent corrective action.
- Develop work instructions, operating procedures, maintenance plans, and critical spares lists.
- Improve throughput, yield, and reliability through data-driven experimentation and continuous improvement.
- Ensure processes and equipment meet ergonomic, safety, and regulatory requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Chemical, or related engineering field.
- Engineer: 2+ years · Senior: 5+ years · Staff: 7+ years in manufacturing or process engineering in high-volume or high-precision production.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex electromechanical equipment.
- Experience with equipment commissioning, validation, and acceptance.
- Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, and automation debugging.
- Ability to travel to supplier and production sites as required.
Level Expectations
Staff additionally owns the process architecture for a program, leads supplier and design reviews, and mentors engineers.
Preferred Skills
- DOE, SPC, Gage R&R, OEE tracking, and yield analysis.
- Structured RCA: 8D, A3, DMAIC, Ishikawa, Five Whys.
- Forging, CNC machining, heat treatment, welding, filling and pressing, or mechanical assembly processes.
- Hazardous-materials or energetics process experience.
- Supplier qualification and vendor management.