NPI Engineer Defense

Job Summary
This role serves as the technical bridge between engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and customers, ensuring new cable designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, compliant with applicable specifications, and capable of meeting demanding performance requirements in defense applications.
 

Essential Job Duties/Functions (Not all inclusive)
New Product Introduction & Program Execution
•    Lead the introduction of new defense cable products from development through production release.
•    Manage project timelines, technical deliverables, risk assessments, and cross-functional coordination activities.
•    Serve as the primary engineering resource during product industrialization. Establish manufacturing readiness requirements and support production ramp-up activities. Coordinate prototype, pilot, and first-production build activities.
Design & Engineering Support
•    Collaborate with design engineering teams to ensure products meet customer requirements and manufacturing capabilities.
•    Participate in product design reviews and technical risk assessments.
•    Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
•    Review cable constructions, materials, processing requirements, and performance specifications.
•    Support technical documentation, drawings, specifications, routers, and manufacturing instructions.
Manufacturing Capability Development
•    Evaluate production methods, equipment capabilities, and process limitations.
•    Develop manufacturing processes for new cable constructions, including - Extrusion, Cabling and stranding, Shielding, Braiding, Fiber optic integration, Jacket application, Termination and assembly 
•    Define process controls and critical manufacturing parameters.
•    Support process validation activities and production troubleshooting.
•    Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to yield, quality, and throughput.
Material Qualification & Validation
•    Lead qualification of new materials, suppliers, and component technologies.
•    Develop material evaluation and testing plans.
•    Assess conductor materials, insulation systems, shielding materials, armor solutions, and jacketing compounds.
•    Collaborate with suppliers to validate material performance and manufacturing compatibility.
•    Support environmental, mechanical, electrical, and reliability testing programs.
•    Generate qualification reports and approval documentation.
Product Qualification & Compliance
•    Develop qualification plans in accordance with customer, military, and industry standards.
•    Coordinate internal and external testing activities.
•    Support qualification efforts related to: MIL-DTL specifications, Environmental performance, Electrical performance, EMI/RFI requirements, Mechanical durability, Reliability and Lifecycle performance
•    Ensure compliance with defense, aerospace, and customer-specific requirements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
•    Participate in customer technical reviews and design discussions.
•    Support proposal and bid activities involving new product development opportunities.
•    Work closely with: Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, Business Development
 

U.S. Person Requirement
This position is subject to the requirements of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR), as such, applicants must be a U.S. person defined as a citizen, national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, person granted asylee status in the U.S., or person admitted into the U.S. as a refugee.

Education 
Bachelor's Degree in: Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Or related technical discipline

Work Experience 
•    Minimum 5 years of experience in product engineering, manufacturing engineering, NPI, or process engineering.
•    Experience introducing engineered products into production environments.

Required & Preferred Skills and Competencies 
Required Qualifications
•    Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and quality systems. 
•    Experience with technical drawings, specifications, and change management processes.
•    Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
•    Excellent communication and project management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
•    Experience within defense, aerospace, wire and cable, or highly regulated manufacturing industries.
•    Knowledge of military and aerospace cable specifications.
•    Experience with fiber optic, copper, hybrid, electro-mechanical, or specialty cable products.
•    Familiarity with: Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, Failure Analysis and Root Cause Investigation, Experience supporting government or military programs.
•    Project Management certification a plus.