Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

Summary

FIRST RF is seeking a motivated and hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to support translating product designs into repeatable, efficient, and compliant manufacturing processes that enable the successful production of hardware from prototype through full-rate production. This role serves as the bridge between Engineering and Production, ensuring that products are producible, quality requirements are achieved, manufacturing risks are mitigated, and continuous improvements are implemented to improve safety, quality, cost, and schedule performance.

Key Responsibilities

· Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, and production plans.

· Partner with Engineering during development to ensure products are manufacturable, testable, and supportable throughout their lifecycle.

· Support prototype, EMD, and production builds by providing hands-on technical guidance and resolving manufacturing issues.

· Identify and implement tooling, fixtures, equipment, and process improvements that improve efficiency, repeatability, ergonomics, and product quality.

· Lead or support root cause investigations and corrective actions related to manufacturing nonconformances and recurring production issues.

· Evaluate and disposition manufacturing impacts of engineering changes, ensuring effective implementation on the production floor.

· Analyze production performance data to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in throughput, yield, cost, and schedule adherence.

· Coordinate with Quality, Supply Chain, Test, and Production personnel to ensure successful execution of manufacturing activities.

· Support qualification activities, first article inspections, process validations, and customer or regulatory audits as required.

· Train and mentor production personnel on new processes, methods, and manufacturing best practices.

· Ensure manufacturing activities comply with applicable safety requirements, quality standards, and company procedures.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week. Typical office hours include Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm; however, these hours may vary based on workload and the manager’s discretion.

Travel

About 10% travel is expected for this position.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary. The employee will also regularly be seated at a desk and using a computer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits Summary

We offer all employees four weeks of PTO each year, flexible scheduling, hybrid work, tuition reimbursement, up to 6% 401(k) match, and healthcare, dental, and vision plans.

AAP/EEO Statement

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including selection, hiring, assignment, re-assignment, promotion, transfer, compensation, discipline, and termination. The Company prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment based on race; color; religion; genetic information; national origin; sex (including same sex); sexual orientation; gender identity; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability or handicap; citizenship status; service member status; or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. We support protected veterans and individuals with disabilities through our affirmative action program.

Requirements

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

· Must have U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance

· Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

· Minimum of 3 years of relevant manufacturing engineering experience.

· Experience developing and maintaining manufacturing processes and documentation.

· Experience supporting hardware builds in a production, prototype, or low-rate manufacturing environment.

· Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and drive issues to resolution through cross-functional collaboration.

· Working knowledge of engineering drawings, bills of material, configuration management, and engineering change processes.

Preferred Education and Experience

· At least 7 years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably within aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries.

· Experience supporting products through the full lifecycle from development and EMD builds into sustained production.

· Familiarity with AS9100 quality management systems and aerospace manufacturing requirements.

· Experience with first article inspections, qualification activities, process validations, and audit support.

· Experience authoring or improving manufacturing work instructions and visual aids for technicians and assemblers.

· Knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and statistical process control techniques.

· Experience designing or specifying manufacturing tooling, fixtures, and test support equipment.

· Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing execution processes.