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Manager, Design Criteria Engineering

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

As Manager of Design Criteria Engineering, you will be responsible for defining, structuring, and managing the interface between Divergent’s customer programs (Applications Team) and its core technology development organization (Platform Technology Team). This role ensures that system-level requirements from active vehicle and defense programs are formally decomposed into clear, actionable platform requirements and capabilities across software, materials, automation, and process technology—enabling Divergent to scale execution while maintaining alignment between programs and platform evolution.

The Role

  • Develop and institutionalize a structured requirements decomposition framework that links application system-level requirements to platform technology requirements.
  • Create and maintain traceability matrices connecting customer needs → program-level requirements → DAPS (Digital Adaptive Production System) platform capabilities.
  • Partner with Program Managers, Responsible Engineers and Platform Leads to ensure platform development priorities align with the most critical application and customer needs.
  • Author and maintain standardized design criteria framework for major application classes (e.g., automotive chassis and suspension, missile airframes, satellite bus structures), defining performance envelopes, mass targets, and qualification thresholds.
  • Support cross-functional “Technical Vetting” reviews to validate that emerging platform capabilities meet application readiness and timing requirements.
  • Identify and communicate capability gaps, risks, and dependencies between application and platform teams, and coordinate mitigation plans.
  • Support the creation of configuration-controlled, digital requirements management tools (e.g., FlowEngineering, Jama, DOORS) to enable consistent traceability and revision control.
  • Document lessons learned from production programs to continuously refine and evolve platform-level requirements, design constraints, and validation standards.
  • Collaborate with manufacturing, materials, and software engineering teams to codify test data, validation results, and model correlation outcomes into platform baselines.

Basic Qualifications

  • Ability to lawfully access information and technology that is subject to US export controls
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structures Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline.
  • Minimum 7 years of experience in systems engineering, requirements management, or platform/product integration within complex mechanical, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing environments.
  • Strong understanding of requirements decomposition, validation planning, and interface control across multidisciplinary teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate customer and program objectives into formalized platform requirements and testable design criteria.
  • Proven record of cross-functional collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and software organizations.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex, multi-domain inputs into actionable frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience implementing or maintaining requirements management systems (e.g., FlowEngineering, Jama, DOORS, Polarion, Confluence-based structures).
  • Familiarity with digital twin and MBSE methodologies in high-complexity engineering environments.
  • Knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, IATF16949 or similar quality frameworks, and the ability to integrate system-level requirements into compliant documentation.
  • Experience with additive manufacturing, automation systems, or advanced materials development.
  • Strong systems-thinking mindset—comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving structured clarity across technology and program boundaries.

Work Environment

  • Performed in manufacturing shop with exposure to noise, machinery, welding, machining, hot surfaces, and airborne particles.
  • Requires frequent standing, walking, and interaction across production and R&D work areas.
  • Requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching. May involve crouching, climbing, confined spaces, or work at heights.
  • May occasionally require extended or weekend hours to meet production deadlines.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at levels M06 as evaluated through our interview process. 

  • M06 / Manager: $157,190 - $216,150

Pay Range

$157,190 - $216,150 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. 
 
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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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