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Lead Advance Manufacturing Engineer

Torrance, California, United States

Divergent is a technology company that has architected, invented, built, and commercialized an end-to-end factory system called the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS™) that comprehensively uses machine learning to optimally engineer, additively manufacture, and flexibly assemble complex integrated vehicle structures and subsystems. Products created using DAPS are superior in performance, lower in cost, rapidly customizable to meet mission and customer-specific requirements, faster to market, and scalable on demand to high volume production. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs, and Divergent is now expanding to support mission critical needs in the Aerospace and Defense sector. Join us to be a part of this transformative journey, where your impact will shape the future of technology and production. 

Purpose

This role serves as the technical bridge between design/manufacturing engineers and the production team, with a core focus on developing scalable, high-reliability automated, machining, & inspection processes. This person is responsible for driving process improvements, solving complex production challenges, and helping to eliminate part flow blockers. Rather than simply supporting products, this engineer leads process innovation enabling rapid iteration, increasing production efficiency, and helping scale Divergent’s capabilities to meet program demands. 

The Role

As the Advance Manufacturing engineer, you will lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of day-to-day operations for machining, automated assembly, automated anodize, inspection, & cleaning work centers. You’ll be one of the primary technical resources supporting these areas with troubleshooting production issues, refining the processes, and enabling scalability through smart programming, tooling/fixturing, documentation, and workflow improvements. This role is hands-on, fast-paced, and essential to delivering high-precision, high-reliability hardware across automotive, aerospace, and defense programs. 

The ideal candidate is well versed in aerospace production environment and has direct experience with supporting the production floor, DFM, machining, assembly, coating, metrology, & thrives on solving complex shop floor problems, and brings a strong process mindset to drive quality, speed, and consistency. 
  

Key Responsibilities 
Operations Support 

  • Own daily production execution, working directly with production floor to resolve issues, and ensure steady throughput. 
  • Develop and implement best practices, processes, strategies, and calibration procedures to improve operational capacity. 
  • Monitor utilization and WIP flow through the work centers, help push/pull work as needed to maintain alignment with production targets. 

 Technical Execution 

  • Act as the technical bridge between design/manufacturing engineering and production teams. 
  • Lead development, execution, and continuous improvement of machining, automated assembly, automated anodize, inspection, and cleaning work centers. 
  • Collaborate on programming for 3-axis, 3+2, and 5-axis CNC mills using Siemens NX CAM software. 
  • Provide feedback using advanced understanding of GD&T, tooling, feeds/speeds, and fixturing. 
  • Introduce standardized strategies, programming conventions, and setup documentation to improve consistency and reduce cycle time. 
  • Leverage metrology and inspection expertise to drive quality assurance in production. 

 Process Development & Scalability 

  • Help lead efforts to integrate new machines, equipment, tools, and fixturing into production; support commissioning. 
  • Co-Drive design-for-manufacturing (DFM) conversations with Manufacturing engineering to improve part manufacturability and reduce complexity at the machine. 
  • Develop and implement innovative fixturing strategies tailored for complex additive manufactured geometries. 
  • Support integration of automated machining technologies to enhance scalability and precision. 

 Continuous Improvement & Documentation 

  • Analyze data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and root causes of scrap or delays; implement corrective actions and process improvements. 
  • Create and maintain detailed documentation to ensure consistency and repeatability across shifts and teams. 
  • Collaborate with software and data teams to integrate production metrics and feedback loops into real-time dashboards and planning systems.  

Basic Qualifications

  • Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience 
  • 8+ years of experience in aerospace or defense industries. 
  • Hands-on experience with advanced manufacturing techniques, including additive manufacturing, robotics, coatings, & inspection/quality 
  • Direct experience with machining, additive manufacturing, coatings, & inspection/quality. 
  • Proficiency in CAD/CAM software (e.g., Siemens NX, AutoCAD) 
  • Advanced knowledge of CNC machining, structure assembly, GD&T, tooling, & metrology. 
  • Experience evaluating, selecting and commissioning of machines to meet manufacturing capabilities.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to innovate in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams. 
  • Ability to work on multiple projects and initiatives in parallel  

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering. 
  • Experience with robotic machining systems and calibration methodologies 
  • Experience with manufacturing automation in automotive or aerospace environments 

Work Environment

  • This is a hands-on position that will require standing for long durations of your day and working directly with hardware on the floor. 
  • Must be comfortable stooping, bending, and standing. 
  • Position may require occasional travel, long hours or weekend work. 

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels E06/Lead - E07/Principal as evaluated through our interview process. 

  • E06/Lead: $141,400 - $194,400
  • E07/Principal: $163,300 - $224,550

Pay Range

$141,400 - $224,550 USD

What We Offer:

  • Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
  • Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
  • Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
  • Investment in Growth: We're committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
  • Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we're disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint. 


Equal Employment Opportunity
Divergent is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected characteristic. Divergent provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
EEO Poster 

In order to adjust to changes in our business, it may become necessary to add, remove or modify certain duties and responsibilities, or to reassign you to another job position. From time to time you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other work. Your cooperation and assistance in performing such additional work is expected. 
 
E-Verify: Right to Work
Our company participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.
Eligibility to Work Poster (English) | Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish)
 
Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)
Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO), we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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