Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing EngineerJob Description The Manufacturing Engineer serves as the technical focal point for assigned projects, ensuring that manufacturing processes, tooling, and documentation comply with customer procurement specifications and internal standards. This role validates manufacturability, drives product and process improvements, supports new product introductions, and leads cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives within an aerospace manufacturing environment. Responsibilities • Act as the primary technical focal point for assigned projects, ensuring all manufacturing activities align with customer product procurement specifications and internal requirements. • Validate that manufacturing processes for detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies meet all customer and internal quality, performance, and compliance requirements. • Initiate and drive product manufacturability efforts, identifying opportunities to simplify designs and processes for efficient production. • Review and approve planning document releases, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with manufacturing capabilities. • Lead Advanced Quality Planning (AQP) activities to proactively address quality risks and ensure robust processes for new and existing products. • Direct and summarize tooling requirements, coordinating the design and implementation of tooling to support manufacturing and assembly operations. • Create clear, concise, and visually effective Visual Work Instructions (VWI) for detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies. • Apply operation time standards and develop Work Combination Sheets (WCS) to support accurate planning, scheduling, and labor estimates. • Ensure the manufacturability of detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies for assigned projects and programs, providing technical guidance between internal manufacturing teams and customer engineering. • Work with suppliers to develop robust manufacturing processes, identify issues, and help correct supplier-related process and quality problems. • Lead the initial manufacturing cycles of new detail parts, sub-assemblies, and assemblies for assigned New Product Introduction (NPI) projects. • Maintain a clear understanding of delivery schedules and adhere to them, collaborating with Contracts Administration and Operations leadership to request schedule changes when additional time is required for tooling or process validation. • Evaluate the effectiveness of existing manufacturing processes and implement improvements to enhance quality, efficiency, and consistency. • Identify, implement, and drive cost reduction initiatives, and may lead special cost reduction projects as part of multi-disciplinary teams. • Provide primary technical support to production or lead a Production Support Team, partnering with other team members to resolve manufacturing issues. • Perform Root Cause and Corrective/Preventive Actions (RCCA) to eliminate root causes of nonconforming products and prevent recurrence. • Perform, document, and validate component, assembly, and system processes such as machining, forming, stamping, heat treating, and chemical processing for materials including titanium, Inconel, aluminum, stainless steel, and tooling steels such as O1 and D2. • Ensure that all engineering changes are properly documented, communicated, and implemented within manufacturing processes and documentation. • Coordinate and drive the design of tooling as it applies to manufacturing and assembly processes, ensuring tools support safe, efficient, and repeatable production. • Develop sound manufacturing processes based on internal capabilities, equipment, and technology, aligning methods with organizational strengths. • Check production drawings for technical content, manufacturability, and clarity, and identify potential issues before release to production. • Make recommendations and offer credible solutions related to product design, tooling, and manufacturing processes to improve performance and efficiency. • Provide data and relevant technical information to support the quoting process, including process assumptions, time standards, and tooling needs. • Follow all organizational policies and procedures related to quality, safety, engineering, and production. • Coach and support other Manufacturing Engineers on their process improvement projects and RCCA initiatives, fostering knowledge sharing and continuous improvement. • Collaborate cross-functionally with planning, operations, quality, and other teams, wearing multiple hats as needed to support both legacy projects and new programs. Essential Skills • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or another engineering discipline with at least 5 years of engineering experience, preferably in an aerospace manufacturing environment, or a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or another engineering discipline with at least 4 years of engineering experience in an aerospace environment. • Strong manufacturing engineering background with hands-on experience in aerospace manufacturing processes and production support. • Knowledge of sheet metal and aerospace materials, including titanium, Inconel, aluminum, stainless steel, and tooling steels such as O1 and D2. • Knowledge of sheet metal-related processes such as welding, forming, non-destructive testing (NDT), and associated geometric tolerancing. • Experience with machining, forming, stamping, heat treating, and chemical processing of metals and aerospace materials. • Ability to develop and validate manufacturing processes that meet customer specifications and internal quality requirements. • Experience creating clear and concise Visual Work Instructions (VWI) and other manufacturing documentation for detail parts, sub-assemblies, and top assemblies. • Ability to apply operation time standards and develop Work Combination Sheets (WCS) to support planning and scheduling. • Demonstrated capability in Advanced Quality Planning (AQP) and proactive quality assurance in manufacturing. • Proven skills in Root Cause and Corrective/Preventive Actions (RCCA) to address nonconformances and drive permanent solutions. • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make credible recommendations on products, tooling, and processes. • Project management skills, including the ability to lead NPI activities, manage priorities, and meet delivery schedules. • Effective communication skills for collaborating with internal manufacturing teams, suppliers, and customer engineering. • Ability to coach and support other engineers on process improvement and RCCA initiatives. • Commitment to following established policies, procedures, and quality standards. Additional Skills & Qualifications • Experience working in a growing aerospace organization with both legacy programs and new product introductions. • background in process improvement and continuous improvement methodologies within manufacturing environments. • Familiarity with cost reduction initiatives and participation in multi-disciplinary teams to drive cost savings. • Comfort in a role that requires wearing multiple hats and engaging with various teams, including planning, production, and quality. • Ability to provide technical input to quoting processes, including process design, tooling requirements, and time standards. • Experience checking production drawings for technical accuracy and manufacturability. • Capability to coordinate tooling design activities and align tooling solutions with manufacturing and assembly needs. • Strong collaboration skills for working with supplier organizations to develop and improve their processes. • Adaptability to support both legacy projects and new programs, balancing short-term production needs with long-term process improvements. Work Environment This is an onsite position in a main manufacturing building, working a standard 40-hour week from Monday through Friday. The typical schedule is approximately 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flexibility to start between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to accommodate personal needs such as family commitments. The Manufacturing Engineer works closely with a cohesive team of about 15 professionals, including manufacturing engineers and planning staff, in a collaborative environment where team members frequently support each other across projects and functions. The role involves hands-on interaction with aerospace manufacturing processes, including machining, forming, stamping, heat treating, chemical processing, and sheet metal fabrication, using materials such as titanium, Inconel, aluminum, stainless steel, and tooling steels. The environment offers good challenges and opportunities, with a mix of legacy projects and numerous new programs, allowing the engineer to take on varied responsibilities, engage with different teams, and contribute to continuous growth and improvement. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Burbank, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $110000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. health, dental, vision, 401K, 10 holidays, 2 weeks PTO Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Burbank,CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 14, 2026. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. 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