Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Aerospace is at a turning point — costs are rising, supply chains are strained, and old ways of building can’t keep up. At Neon Aero, we’re breaking that mold. We move fast, think big, and combine start-up agility with aerospace expertise to design, build, and scale aircraft in ways the industry has never seen. Our team leverages automation, AI-driven tools, and a fully connected digital backbone to accelerate innovation and reduce barriers to production.

Here, you won’t just take a job — you’ll help reinvent how the world flies. If you’re ready to solve complex problems, push technology further, and work alongside some of the brightest minds in aerospace, this is your chance to make a real impact.

Neon Aero is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to work onsite in Irvine, Ca. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will lead the industrialization of complex mechanical and electromechanical products from early development through production release. This role is a critical bridge between Design Engineering and the factory, ensuring products are manufacturable, repeatable, cost-effective, and ready to scale.

You will develop manufacturing processes, tooling, build plans, work instructions, and production systems while working hands-on with hardware, suppliers, Quality, and Production. As a senior member of a small team, you will be expected to solve complex manufacturing problems independently, influence product design, and help establish the manufacturing standards and capabilities that will support the growth of Neon’s Systems business.

Why This Role Matters: 

• Critical interface between Design Engineering and production, ensuring product intent can be executed reliably on the shop floor.
• Directly influences product cost, build quality, cycle time, and readiness to scale.
• Reduces production risk by identifying manufacturability and process issues before they impact rate, quality, or delivery.
• Enables the Systems business to transition efficiently from prototype and qualification builds into repeatable production.
• Strengthens manufacturing capability and operational scalability as product volume and complexity increase.

What you’ll Bring: 

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field preferred; significant relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 6 years of manufacturing engineering experience supporting complex hardware development and/or production.
• Experience in Consumer or Commercial Industries is preferred.  
• Demonstrated experience taking products from development through production release.
• Deep manufacturing engineering expertise across DFM/DFA, process development, tooling, work instructions, and production readiness.
• Advanced engineering drawing interpretation and GD&T capability.
• Hands-on experience solving shop-floor manufacturing problems and supporting hardware builds.
• Experience with mechanical and electromechanical assembly and multiple scalable manufacturing processes.
• Experience with supplier process development, First Article builds, and production readiness.
• Working knowledge of inspection methods, metrology, process capability, and root cause/corrective action.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work independently across engineering, quality, production, and supply chain.
• A high-ownership mindset and willingness to stay close to the hardware.

 Why Join Us:

• Work alongside elite operations talent and innovators from across aerospace and tech.
• Be part of a team moving faster than the industry standard.
• Shape solutions that are lower-cost, autonomous, and scalable, the future of aviation.
• Competitive compensation, including equity participation, growth opportunities, and full health benefits (health, vision, dental, 401K) designed to support you in and out of work.

Neon Aero, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

All final candidates must successfully complete a background check and drug screening as a condition of employment.

At this time, Neon Aero and its divisions are not accepting unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies.