Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Our core competencies include systems engineering, program management, logistics, production support, aircraft maintenance, and aviation/aerospace services. We were founded in 2015 and since our establishment, we have been attracting the best talent in our fields of interest enabling us to provide cutting-edge solutions and support to our warfighters. We understand and provide expert consultation on weapons systems acquisition programs, maintenance/modernization programs, and sustainment programs. We know defense and we know aircraft systems.

The Principal Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing and reviewing the procedures and equipment involved in the manufacturing process. Their duties include researching automation techniques, testing new systems for efficiency and planning factory layouts to optimize production. This role is responsible for supporting the mechanical engineering function as needed as well as overseeing suppliers and subcontractors as it relates to their assigned programs to help manage the best possible outcomes for our customers. The Principal Manufacturing Engineer will support all phases of the product lifecycle—from requirements analysis and design through integration, verification, and delivery—while ensuring technical performance, schedule adherence, and budget compliance. The Principal Manufacturing Engineer will drive alignment between engineering execution and manufacturing, ensure compliance with the technical data package, DoD and company standards, and foster a culture of engineering excellence.

Duties/Responsibilities: 

Technical & Project Leadership:

o   Lead manufacturing engineering activities from product design through production, including design-for-manufacturability (DFM), design-for-assembly (DFA), and production readiness.

o   Develop and optimize manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and production methods for complex aerospace and defense hardware.

o   Evaluate engineering designs for manufacturability, producibility, cost, quality, reliability, and schedule impacts and provide actionable recommendations to design teams.

o   Develop and maintain process plans, manufacturing work instructions, travelers, routings, bills of material (BOMs), and other manufacturing documentation.

o   Lead First Article Inspection (FAI), production qualification, process validation, and engineering verification activities in accordance with AS9100, AS9102, customer, and contractual requirements.

o   Identify and resolve production, manufacturing, and supplier technical issues, including root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.

o   Lead MRB/nonconformance investigations, disposition technical issues, and coordinate corrective actions with Quality, Engineering, Operations, and suppliers.

o   Develop and implement lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, process optimization, and cost-reduction initiatives.

o   Perform capacity, cycle-time, labor, equipment, and facility analyses to support production planning and program growth.

o   Support new product introduction (NPI) and transition of engineering designs into production.

o   Establish and maintain manufacturing readiness and production readiness assessments for new and existing programs.

o   Evaluate and select manufacturing technologies, equipment, materials, processes, and outside suppliers to meet program requirements.

o   Support supplier technical evaluations, source selection, make/buy decisions, and supplier development activities.

o   Develop technical approaches and cost estimates for proposals, ROMs, bids, and new business opportunities.

Program / Customer Interface:

o   Serve as the primary manufacturing engineering interface with government customers, prime contractors, suppliers, and internal program leadership.

o   Represent the organization in customer technical reviews, design reviews, production meetings, and program status reviews.

o   Communicate technical status, manufacturing readiness, risks, issues, and recovery plans to program leadership and executive management.

o   Support development of technical volumes, statements of work, proposals, basis-of-estimate inputs, and customer presentations.

o   Support program execution by ensuring manufacturing engineering activities are aligned with cost, schedule, technical performance, and contractual requirements.

o   Provide technical leadership during customer audits, source inspections, FAI events, acceptance activities, and production qualification events.

Team Leadership & Development:

o   Serve as the senior manufacturing engineering authority for assigned programs and provide technical direction to engineers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel.

o   Lead cross-functional teams consisting of Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and external suppliers to resolve complex technical and production challenges.

o   Provide technical mentorship and guidance to manufacturing engineers, junior engineers, and technicians, promoting consistent engineering practices and professional development.

o   Establish and maintain manufacturing engineering standards, processes, and best practices across programs and facilities.

o   Lead design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, technical interchange meetings, and production reviews.

o   Translate customer and contractual requirements into practical manufacturing and engineering execution plans.

o   Identify technical, manufacturing, cost, schedule, and supply-chain risks and develop mitigation strategies and recovery plans.

o   Drive technical decisions using data, engineering analysis, production metrics, and risk-based decision making.

o   Coordinate resolution of cross-functional technical issues that span engineering design, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and operations.

o   Review and approve manufacturing engineering deliverables for technical accuracy, completeness, and compliance.

 Note:  The duties and responsibilities described on this document are not necessarily a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; and the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering and manufacturing experience, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing engineering activities for complex aerospace, defense, or electromechanical systems from development through production.
• Strong proficiency in interpreting and developing engineering drawings, CAD models, mechanical/electrical schematics, specifications, and technical data packages (TDPs).
• Demonstrated experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), process development, tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and production processes.
• Experience with 3D CAD/modeling software, preferably SolidWorks or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience with configuration management, engineering change control, BOM management, and revision control.
• Experience developing and executing manufacturing plans, process plans, routings, travelers, work instructions, and production documentation.
• Experience supporting First Article Inspection (FAI), production qualification, process validation, and transition from engineering development into production.
• Working knowledge of AS9100, AS9102, ISO 9001, and aerospace/defense quality systems.
• Experience with root-cause analysis, corrective action, nonconformance/MRB disposition, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to perform manufacturing capacity, labor, cost, make/buy, tooling, equipment, and process analyses.
• Experience working directly with customers, suppliers, program management, quality, engineering, and production organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and mentor engineers and technicians.
• Strong understanding of program schedules, technical milestones, risk management, and production readiness.
• Ability to develop and communicate technical presentations, engineering analyses, proposals, estimates, and customer deliverables.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with engineering personnel, production personnel, senior leadership, government customers, and prime contractors.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple projects, and make sound technical and business decisions with limited direction.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, if required by assigned programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS Degree in STEM or business-related field
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering environments.
• Experience with specific DoD agencies or commands relevant to Albers Aerospace's work (e.g., Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), US Army, US Navy Program Offices).
• Experience in the design and integration of munitions, loitering munitions, fuzing technologies, or other complex aerospace weapon systems.
• Active involvement in industry organizations such as AIAA (e.g., Member, Associate Fellow, Committee involvement).
• Background in All-Up Round (AUR) integration, warhead design, tail kit design, Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), or Modeling, Simulation & Analysis (MS&A).
• Direct experience with Hydra 70 rockets and components
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government acquisition programs, including DoD customers.
• Experience working with MIL-STD, MIL-SPEC, and government contract requirements.
• Experience with CUI and/or CMMC-controlled environments.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing execution systems.
• Experience with GD&T and ASME Y14.5.
• Experience with AS9102 First Article Inspection requirements.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience with supplier qualification, supplier development, and source selection.
• Experience with aerospace structures, aircraft modification/integration, avionics, electromechanical systems, or mission systems.
• Experience developing and managing Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) and engineering work breakdown structures.
• Experience with DOORS, Jama, or other requirements-management tools.
• Experience with SolidWorks PDM/PLM or equivalent product lifecycle management systems.