Head of Engineering - Advanced Additive Manufacturing

Head of Engineering - Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing Systems

Long Beach, CA | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join an early-stage aerospace and advanced manufacturing company developing next-generation production systems for high-performance structural hardware used across defense, aerospace, and energy applications. This leadership role will own engineering execution across machine development, product engineering, testing, and manufacturing scale-up, helping transition complex hardware systems from early R&D into repeatable production environments. The position sits at the center of engineering, production, and product development, leading multidisciplinary teams responsible for both manufacturing platforms and customer-delivered hardware. The role requires strong technical ownership, hands-on leadership, and the ability to balance rapid development with high-reliability engineering standards.

About Us

We are a venture-backed hardware company focused on developing advanced manufacturing technologies for aerospace and defense applications. The team is building scalable production systems capable of supporting high-performance, certifiable hardware in demanding operational environments. With a strong emphasis on rapid iteration, engineering rigor, and vertically integrated development, the company is scaling both its technology platform and internal manufacturing capabilities.

Job Duties

• Lead development and continuous improvement of proprietary manufacturing systems and production equipment
• Drive reliability, throughput, process control, and system performance across manufacturing platforms
• Own engineering execution for customer-delivered hardware, including structural and thermal analysis activities
• Translate product requirements into manufacturable, testable, and certifiable hardware designs
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts across mechanical systems, materials, controls, and process development
• Guide rapid prototyping and product development cycles aligned with company milestones
• Develop and execute qualification and validation testing strategies for high-reliability hardware
• Support pressure, vibration, shock, and environmental testing activities
• Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions from hardware and test failures
• Oversee in-house machine shop operations, tooling workflows, fixturing, and manufacturing efficiency improvements
• Partner closely with production and operations teams to transition development programs into scalable manufacturing
• Improve production yield, cycle time, repeatability, and overall hardware quality
• Build, mentor, and lead engineering teams across R&D and production environments
• Establish engineering standards, documentation practices, and configuration control processes
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, operations, quality, and executive leadership teams
  
  

Qualifications

• 8 years of engineering experience within aerospace, advanced manufacturing, defense, or complex hardware environments
• Experience leading development of complex hardware systems from concept through production
• Strong background in mechanical engineering and high-reliability hardware development
• Experience performing or overseeing structural, thermal, or related engineering analysis
• Experience supporting qualification, validation, or environmental testing activities
• Hands-on experience working alongside manufacturing, machine shop, or production teams
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering organizations in fast-paced startup environments
• Strong understanding of product development, manufacturing execution, and engineering ownership
• Experience balancing rapid iteration with engineering rigor and product quality
• Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Experience with aerospace or defense certification environments
• Familiarity with aerospace qualification and compliance standards
• Exposure to manufacturing process development or advanced production systems
• Experience leading vertically integrated hardware development programs
• Background supporting high-pressure, thermal, vibration, or shock-related testing environments
• Experience scaling engineering organizations within startup or high-growth hardware companies
  
  

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to lead engineering for a next-generation manufacturing platform
• High ownership and direct influence on company direction and technical execution
• Exposure across R&D, production, qualification, and manufacturing scale-up activities
• Ability to build and shape engineering teams and processes from an early stage
• Equity participation and long-term growth opportunity within a rapidly scaling hardware company
  
  

Compensation Details

$175,000 - $225,000