Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanisms

About the Team: 

The Stage Manufacturing team turns design into reality, owning the build of Terran R’s primary structures. This isn’t about turning the same bolt every day; it’s about building the systems to build the rocket. Engineers and technicians work side by side, with deep collaboration and real-time feedback, to shape how we build better and faster. With a manifest and a launch date, it’s up to the team to deliver on Terran R: solving challenges in real time, optimizing for scale, and constantly improving processes. As the vehicle evolves, so will the factory, with opportunities to apply automation, machine learning, and advanced technologies. What we build here sets the blueprint for the future of scaled launch.

About the Role:

• Own major mechanized assemblies and their child components from design release through test and successful integration onto the Terran R launch vehicle—lay out the build and test flow to ensure an efficient, high-quality product flow capable of scaling with time. 
• Drive the assembly’s build and test effort through design integration, part sourcing, assembly sequencing, mBOM development, build and test work order creation, and specification authoring. 
• Support workcenter development by considering assembly and test operations, safety, tooling and capital equipment requirements, and company operational goals.
• Provide hands-on support to the shop floor and production personnel, promptly addressing any issues that arise and offering upstream feedback to drive design for manufacturability.
• Analyze and disposition recurring manufacturing discrepancies and lead multi-disciplinary teams on root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Foster a culture of critical thinking and imaginative problem-solving, constantly challenging the established norms in engineering and manufacturing, and pushing the boundaries to achieve efficient production throughout the workcenter. Mentor other manufacturing engineers, providing guidance to support technical and professional development. 

About You:

• BS degree in aerospace, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering with 5+ years of experience building and testing hardware in a manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience developing processes, authoring work instructions and/or test procedures to build and test interdisciplinary mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic assemblies. 
• Experience interfacing with design engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, planning, and production personnel.
• Extensive experience leading, executing and managing large process and/or quality improvements with large scope of ownership.
• Ability to work autonomously with little supervision in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment.
• Expert in at least 2 of the following:  
  • fastening and torquing operations, pneumatic and/or electromechanical assembly, electrical and/or pneumatic testing or functional checkouts, tooling design and fabrication, potting processes, grease plating processes, harness manufacturing, machining of complex products like gears. 

Nice to haves but not required:  

• New product introduction of an aerospace hardware system into a manufacturing, test, and production system with proven success. Along with transitioning products from prototype to high volume production. Understand the importance of assessing a situation and leveraging both short-term and long-term solutions.
• Working knowledge of rocket subsystems including structures, mechanisms, high pressure gas systems and/or avionics.
• Expert understanding of GD&T and drafting principles.
• Experience in capacity analyses, DFMEA/PFMEA, value stream mapping.