Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly accomplished Principal Manufacturing Engineer to serve as a senior individual contributor and cross-functional technical lead supporting multiple business units. In this high-visibility corporate role, you will act as the manufacturing subject matter expert, optimizing production capabilities that range from build-to-print fabrication, reverse engineering, electronics assembly, and repair & overhaul of legacy military platforms.

The ideal candidate bridges the gap between diverse factory operations, supply chain logistics, and federal compliance. You must pair deep, hands-on production expertise across multiple manufacturing disciplines with a mastery of U.S. Government procurement, FAR/DFARS compliance, and DCMA oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Multi-BU Technical Leadership: Serve as the senior technical authority across multiple business units, providing engineering oversight, resolving manufacturing constraints, and standardizing best practices.
• Engineering Packages: Prepare and develop alternate source approval engineering packages and applications to the Federal Government for manufacture/repair projects.
• Diverse Process Management: Drive operational excellence across a wide array of internal and outsourced manufacturing processes, including Build-to-Print Fabrication & Assembly, Electronics & Avionics Assembly, Cables & Wire Harnesses.
• MRO & Legacy Platforms: Direct the manufacturing engineering execution for the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) of legacy military assets. Develop creative engineering solutions for obsolete components, reclamation processes, and reverse-engineering challenges.
• Proposal Engineering: Generate Manufacturing Plans, Basis of Estimates (BOEs) for labor, and tooling cost projections to support competitive bidding on complex government RFPs/RFIs.
• Supply Chain Technical Sourcing: Partner closely with Procurement and Operations to evaluate supplier technical capabilities, support first-article audits at supplier facilities, and mitigate technical risks within the defense vendor network.
• Government Contract & DCMA Compliance: Serve as the lead technical interface for Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) manufacturing capability audits and source inspections.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including business development, program managers, and manufacturing to resolve obsolescence and producibility issues.
• Support technical documentation review, capability/risk assessments, and validation processes for government contract deliverables.
• Support business development with technical input during capture phases, customer meetings, and bid reviews, support technical proposal preparation and contributing to win strategies.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on U.S. government procurement processes, contract structures, and compliance requirements.
• Leverage engineering expertise to ensure accuracy and competitiveness of proposal cost and labor estimates.
• Engage with government representatives, prime contractors, and subcontractors to ensure alignment with technical and contractual objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a highly related technical discipline.
• Experience: 10 years of progressive manufacturing engineering experience within the aerospace and defense sector supporting diverse product portfolios under U.S. DoD contracts.
• Quality Frameworks: Familiarity and working knowledge of AS9100 (Aerospace Design and Manufacturing) and AS9110 (Aerospace Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) quality management systems.
• Technical Subject Matter Expertise: Experience spanning CNC machining, metal/structural fabrication, wire harness fabrication, and mechanical assembly.
• MRO Acuity: Experience managing technical data, component repair schemes, and validation testing for legacy military hardware.
• Compliance & Auditing: Understanding of AS9102 First Article Inspections and direct experience defending manufacturing processes to DCMA or government quality inspectors.
• Tools: Proficiency with ERP platforms (Dynamics365, E2) and MS Office suite.

Pay: $105,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have aerospace experience?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Houston, TX 77092 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $105,000 - $130,000