Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

 About Role

As the Manager, Manufacturing Engineering, you will own Varda's ability to meet increasing vehicle production cadence targets. This role is responsible for developing and improving manufacturing processes, production layouts, and tooling to transition evolving vehicle designs into multiple concurrent builds at scale. You will lead a team of manufacturing engineers and specialists responsible for piece parts and subassemblies through final vehicle integration. Working cross-functionally with design engineering, production, and supply chain, you will ensure Varda’s vehicles can be built safely and at rate to meet customer demand.

Responsibilities 

• Own manufacturing engineering strategy and execution to enable increasing vehicle production cadence
• Build and lead a high performing team of manufacturing engineers and specialists
• Provide technical direction to improve team and build processes to scale toward increasing build rate
• Develop and scale manufacturing processes for evolving vehicle designs
• Partner with design engineering to improve vehicle designs for manufacturability and production scale
• Proactively coordinate with engineering and supply chain to improve the vehicle lead times and quality
• Review work instructions to make change recommendations when required and identify tooling/training gaps
• Lead the transition of hardware from development into production, with a focus on manufacturability, repeatability, quality, and throughput
• Establish manufacturing readiness plans, capacity models, and build strategies to support production targets
• Create and maintain manufacturing plans, process flows, work instructions, and build documentation
• Define equipment, tooling, and facility needs required to meet future rate goals

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field). 
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering of complex hardware with experience supporting final assembly and integration
• People management experience (3+ years preferred).
• Teamwork, communication (verbal and written), and problem solving in a collaborative environment 
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries  
• Strong first principles thinking
• Hands-on experience building complex vehicles
  • Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.  
  • Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing 
  • Hands-on position may require standing for up to 6 hours a day and working directly with hardware on the floor 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of aerospace vehicle systems
• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project 
• Capability to solve complex problems autonomously as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
• Experience moving teams and processes from development to production 
• Ability to read engineering drawings and schematics
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, cleanliness, ESD, grounding, etc.)  
• Experience across structures, propulsion, and/or avionics production
• Prior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort
• Experience with Unigraphics NX or similar CAD software

Pay Range

• $150,000 - $198,000
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards