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Lead Manufacturing Engineer
Job Location:
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
22 July 2026 (20 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
20 October 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Role Overview
The Lead Manufacturing Engineer provides technical leadership for the development validation and sustainment of manufacturing processes tooling fixtures and mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) supporting spacecraft assembly integration and test (AIT).
The individual establishes technical direction for manufacturing development activities ensuring manufacturing solutions meet program requirements while balancing quality schedule cost safety and scalability. Working closely with Design Engineering Systems Engineering Test Engineering Production Quality and Program Management the role ensures manufacturing readiness is achieved before hardware enters production.
Beyond technical execution the Lead Engineer mentors junior engineers develops team capability promotes engineering best practices and creates a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and Design for Excellence (DFX) initiatives.
Roles & Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead mentor and support Manufacturing CAD & Development Engineers.
- Assign and prioritize engineering activities to meet project milestones.
- Promote engineering best practices collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Support technical reviews and provide guidance on engineering decisions.
Manufacturing Technical Leadership
- Develop and standardize manufacturing processes and engineering documentation.
- Apply Design for Excellence (DfX) principles to improve manufacturability and production efficiency.
- Define manufacturing strategies that support production scalability and product quality.
- Ensure manufacturing solutions meet technical cost and schedule objectives.
Tooling & MGSE Development
- Lead the design development validation and lifecycle management of tooling fixtures and Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE).
- Ensure tooling solutions are production-ready and support assembly integration and testing activities.
- Coordinate fabrication procurement and qualification of manufacturing tooling.
Manufacturing Readiness
- Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new products and programs.
- Ensure manufacturing processes tooling facilities documentation and resources are available before production.
- Identify manufacturing risks and implement mitigation plans.
- Support Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR) and production readiness assessments.
Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement
- Lead root cause investigations for manufacturing issues and non-conformances.
- Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve quality efficiency safety and cycle time.
- Use manufacturing metrics and data to identify improvement opportunities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Design Engineering AIT Quality Supply Chain Production and Program Management teams.
- Support supplier and customer technical discussions related to manufacturing activities.
- Ensure manufacturability considerations are incorporated throughout product development.
- Contribute to successful program execution from development through production.
Must-Have Requirements
- Bachelors degree in Mechanical Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering or a related discipline.
- Experience leading technical engineering teams or manufacturing development activities.
- Experience developing manufacturing processes work instructions and production documentation.
- Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DfM) Design for Assembly (DfA) and Design for Excellence (DfX) principles.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma methodologies.
- Experience in satellite Assembly Integration & Test (AIT) or aerospace manufacturing.
- Proficiency with one or more CAD platforms such as SolidWorks SolidWorks PDM Siemens NX CATIA Creo or AutoCAD.
- Knowledge of aerospace and space industry standards such as NASA ECSS ISO MIL-STD IPC or J-STD.
- Experience designing or supporting MGSE tooling fixtures and Test/EGSE.
- Experience performing root cause analysis and troubleshooting manufacturing issues.
- Knowledge of machining processes manufacturing methods and material selection.
- Certification knowledge or practical experience working with heavy equipment such as cranes forklifts lifting devices or rigging operations.
- Experience working within cross-functional engineering and manufacturing teams.
Good-to-Have Qualifications
- Experience leading manufacturing readiness or production readiness reviews.
- Experience supporting low-volume to high-volume production transitions.
- Knowledge of automation robotics or smart manufacturing technologies.
- Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
- Familiarity with ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
- Experience working with external suppliers and contract manufacturers.
- Knowledge of additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping technologies.
- Project management or technical program leadership experience.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- Experience working in a fast-paced space or aerospace startup environment.
- Familiarity with configuration management and engineering change processes (ECR/ECO/ECN).
- Understanding of risk management methodologies such as FMEA and PFMEA.
- Experience with qualification verification and validation of manufacturing tooling and equipment.
Orbitworks mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. Building on Loft Orbitals heritage Orbitworks will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites. Orbitworks aims to manufacture tens of satellites annually and operates out of a 50000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process such as reviewing applications analyzing resumes or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us.
Required Experience:
IC
About Company
Loft Orbital builds software and hardware products to fly and operate any payload on a standard satellite bus. See how we're making space simple.
