Back to jobs
New

Director of Manufacturing Engineering

South El Monte, California

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

In this role, you will lead manufacturing engineering strategy and execution across all production value streams. You will drive process capability, technical problem-solving, new product introduction readiness, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment among engineering, operations, quality, programs, and supply chain. You will guide the development of scalable, high-performance manufacturing systems that strengthen safety, productivity, quality, and cost performance across Karman’s facilities.

Responsibilities

  • Leads and develops a cross-functional team of manufacturing engineers, machinists, computer numerical control (CNC) programmers, and industrial engineers to standardize planning, work instructions, and manufacturing flow.
  • Establishes technical direction for manufacturing engineering, including process design, tooling, fixtures, machining methods, and assembly approaches.
  • Builds a culture of accountability, ownership, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
  • Defines and maintains standard manufacturing processes, specifications, and work instructions using continuous-improvement methodologies.
  • Implements process controls including process failure mode and effects analyses (PFMEAs), validations, and capability studies.
  • Drives improvements in throughput, setup time, scrap reduction, cycle time, and labor efficiency.
  • Incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support machining and labor-hour proposal estimates.
  • Collaborates with design engineering and customers to ensure manufacturability of new products.
  • Leads manufacturing readiness activities including tooling, process validation, and production ramp.
  • Coordinates with program management, quality, and supply chain to support on-time and cost-effective product launches.
  • Partners with operations and site leadership to meet production goals and resolve technical barriers.
  • Works with quality teams to ensure adherence to aerospace and defense standards such as AS9100.
  • Interfaces with supply chain to support supplier capability, manufacturability, and technical requirements.
  • Supports customer and regulatory audits and provides required technical documentation.
  • Assesses and implements new technologies, automation, and equipment to strengthen manufacturing capability.
  • Supports long-term strategies for manufacturing scalability, factory layout, and capital investment.
  • Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) for process stability, efficiency, and capacity.
  • Provides regular updates to executive leadership on performance trends, major risks, and improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a related field.
  • Ten or more years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or complex precision manufacturing.
  • Five or more years of leadership experience overseeing technical teams.
  • Experience in machining, composites, assembly, or special processes relevant to Karman’s capabilities.
  • Experience with AS9100 or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.
  • Expertise in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), CNC programming, and manufacturing analytics tools.
  • Strong technical problem-solving skills with experience optimizing manufacturing flow and tooling setups.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-mix engineering and manufacturing environment.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to drive initiatives to completion.

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to work in both manufacturing floor and office environments.
  • Ability to move through machining, assembly, and inspection areas.
  • Periodic travel between facilities may be required. The essential functions of this position must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Company‑paid life and AD\&D insurance
  • Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
  • Tuition reimbursement

 

Salary Range

$200,000 - $225,000 USD

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

View our Privacy Policy

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Which option best describes the highest level and current status of any DoD security clearance eligibility you hold or previously held? *
Select...
Select...

Please provide your desired hourly rate or annual base salary. A range is welcome, such as $20 to $30 per hour or $70,000 to $80,000 per year.

Select...

A U.S. person includes a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or a person granted refugee status or asylum in the United States.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Karman Space & Defense’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...