Manufacturing Engineer

This Manufacturing Engineer role offers the opportunity to build and own the entire manufacturing engineering function for a fast-moving aerospace and defense organization. You will lead the development of robust manufacturing processes for electro-mechanical assemblies and cable and harness products, define workflows, and create fixturing and documentation that ensure high-quality, repeatable production in a highly regulated environment. This position is ideal for a hands-on engineer who thrives in a growth-oriented setting, enjoys working close to the product, and is motivated by supporting mission-critical systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, optimization, and ownership of manufacturing processes for aerospace and defense electro-mechanical assemblies and cable and harness products.
• Define detailed manufacturing workflows, including process flows, cycle times, and task times, to support efficient and scalable production.
• Design and build assembly fixtures and tooling using SolidWorks, applying GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis to ensure manufacturability and repeatability.
• Develop, write, and maintain clear work instructions and process documentation that support consistent execution on the production floor.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to new and existing products to reduce complexity, improve yield, and lower production risk.
• Oversee and refine electro-mechanical assembly processes, including torque sequencing, bonding, thermal staking, and press-fit connector installation.
• Establish and support cable and harness manufacturing processes, including automated cut, strip, and crimp operations, overmolding, EMI shielding, and hi-pot testing.
• Support and, where applicable, lead first article inspection activities to validate new processes and ensure compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure manufacturing processes and documentation align with AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality systems and applicable FAA regulations, including Part 21 and Production Organization Approval (POA).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate manufacturing requirements into product designs and to resolve production issues quickly and effectively.
• Utilize MRP and PLM systems to manage manufacturing data, bills of materials, and engineering changes in a controlled and traceable manner.
• Apply process flow expertise and statistical process control methods to monitor performance, drive continuous improvement, and reduce variation.
• Support and, where appropriate, help implement manufacturing automation solutions, including collaborative robots, pick-and-place systems, and automated optical inspection.
• Contribute to a culture of rapid prototyping and iterative improvement, enabling fast decision cycles and reliable fielding of new capabilities.
• Protect controlled information and support compliance with security requirements associated with aerospace and defense programs.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing engineering.
• Hands-on experience with electro-mechanical assembly processes, including torque sequencing, bonding, thermal staking, and press-fit connectors.
• Strong expertise in cable and harness manufacturing, including automated cut, strip, and crimp processes, overmolding, EMI shielding, and hi-pot testing.
• Proven ability to define manufacturing workflows and process flows, including understanding of cycle time and task time.
• Demonstrated capability to design and build assembly fixturing using SolidWorks.
• Proficiency with GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis for manufacturable designs and fixtures.
• Deep knowledge of cable and harness manufacturing and electromechanical assembly best practices.
• Experience applying Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to new and existing products.
• Knowledge of IPC/J-STD-001 requirements and related workmanship standards.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Familiarity with FAA regulations, including Part 21 and Production Organization Approval (POA).
• Experience with manufacturing engineering in aerospace and defense environments.
• Ability to work effectively as the primary or sole manufacturing engineer, taking ownership of processes and documentation.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense personnel security clearance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering; additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience with RF coaxial cable assembly and environmental stress screening (ESS).
• Familiarity with manufacturing automation, including collaborative robots, pick-and-place systems, and automated optical inspection.
• Knowledge and application of IPC-A-610 and IPC-A-620 standards; trainer certification is highly valued.
• Proficiency with CAD tools, with SolidWorks strongly preferred.
• Experience with PLM systems such as Arena or Teamcenter.
• Experience with MRP systems to support manufacturing planning and control.
• Background in first article inspection processes and documentation.
• Experience with statistical process control tools such as Minitab or JMP.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification or higher.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for creating work instructions and collaborating across engineering, supply chain, and production teams.
• Ability to operate in a rapid prototyping and fast-paced development environment while maintaining rigor and compliance.

You will work in an innovative aerospace and defense environment that focuses on rapid prototyping, open systems integration, and the delivery of simple, effective information capabilities to support critical missions. This role functions as the sole Manufacturing Engineer on staff, giving you a high level of ownership, visibility, and influence over how products are built and improved. You will collaborate closely with engineering, program, and supply chain teams, using tools such as SolidWorks, PLM systems (e.g., Arena or Teamcenter), MRP systems, and statistical process control software like Minitab or JMP. The environment emphasizes speed, flexibility, and decisive results while maintaining compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable FAA and defense-related standards. Employees have the opportunity to contribute to nationally relevant systems and to support warfighters with reliable, flexible equipment. Specific work hours, shift details, and dress code are not detailed, but the setting is oriented around hands-on engineering in a production and lab environment with a strong focus on quality, security, and continuous improvement.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

The pay range for this position is $55.28 - $67.30/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on May 18, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.