Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Title: Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Winchester VA
FLSA:Exempt

About Our Company:
At Heven AeroTech (Heven) we dont just believe in the power of peoplewe build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones weve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives collaboration is second nature and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble hungry and smartthose who put team success first take initiative to continuously improve and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven your voice matters your ideas are heard and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary:
The Senior Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in bridging the gap between design engineering and production operations. This position is responsible for ensuring that new product designs are effectively transitioned into the manufacturing environment with a focus on manufacturability cost efficiency quality and scalability. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will evaluate product designs optimize assembly processes develop detailed work instructions and provide hands-on support and training to production teams. This role requires strong technical expertise excellent communication skills and a continuous improvement mindset.

This is a highly experienced engineering role embedded within the Operations team with deep expertise in assembly processes process optimization and New-Product Introduction (NPI).

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer brings a strong understanding of lean methods CAD/ERP workflows and production system requirements and leads scoped NPI projects and subsystem readiness across the product lifecycle. The role supports engineering excellence through hands-on problem-solving cross-functional collaboration and peer mentorship while delivering high quality documentation tooling plans and on-the-floor support to ensure build success.

Essential Responsibilities:

• New Product Introduction (NPI): Act as the liaison between engineering and production to integrate new designs into manufacturing. Support early-stage builds by physically assembling parts to validate design intent and process addition supporting the NPI through to the flight testing group to validate the NPI project.
• Hands-On Assembly & Design Feedback: Build prototypes and initial production units to learn optimal assembly sequences tooling jigs and fixture needs. Provide clear actionable feedback to design engineers to improve manufacturability and ease of assembly.
• Work Instructions and Documentation: Create and maintain detailed step-by-step assembly instructions and related documentation using tools such as Microsoft Word PowerPoint and Excel. Experience working directly with technical writers to transition work instructions into forms that ensure process traceability by recording work performed in travelers logs or digital systems a plus. May mentor others in best practices for documentation quality and version control.
• Process Development and Optimization: Design and refine manufacturing processes and assembly flows. Implement lean principles to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Determine tooling and fixture requirements and work with internal or external partners to develop or procure them. Lead scoped process improvement projects across subsystems or platforms.
• Work Instructions and Documentation: Create and maintain detailed step-by-step assembly instructions and related documentation using tools such as Microsoft Word PowerPoint and Excel. Experience working directly with technical writers to transition initial work instructions into XML-based documentation system to ensure traceability; experience with travelers logs or digital systems a plus. May mentor production staff in best practices for documentation quality and version control.
• Training and Support: Train assembly leads and technicians on new products processes and equipment. Troubleshoot production issues and act as a hands-on technical resource on the shop floor. Good interpersonal skills are highly desired in this role to act as a peer mentor to both technicians and junior engineers.
• Quality and Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues and nonconformances. Drive continuous improvement initiatives using methodologies such as Six Sigma 5S and PFMEA. Champion structured root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Ensure Compliance and Safety: Ensure that all manufacturing activities comply with safety standards company policies and regulatory requirements. Support the development of safe work procedures and tooling evaluations.
• Tooling and Jig design involving CAD Designs (Solidworks) and development to support manufacturing as needed
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• Education: Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Industrial Engineering or a related field. (or a demonstrated equivalence)
• Experience: 7 years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role preferably in a high mix low-volume or complex assembly environment. Experience specific to UAS is a big plus.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of DFM principles lean manufacturing and process optimization. Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work cross-functionally. Proficient in CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks AutoCAD) and ERP/MRP systems.
• Professional working proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required to perform the responsibilities of this role.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future.
• If this role requires access to information controlled under U.S. export control laws (ITAR/EAR) applicants must also qualify as a U.S. person under 22 CFR 120.62 (U.S. citizen U.S. national lawful permanent resident or protected individual such as an asylee or refugee).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in a manufacturing and production environment including time spent on the shop floor in engineering workspaces and around manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while supporting production activities troubleshooting issues and training technicians.
• Ability to frequently use hands and fingers to handle inspect assemble and manipulate small mechanical electrical and composite components tools fixtures and test equipment.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand and arm movements associated with assembly inspection tooling adjustment and hands-on process development.
• Ability to occasionally bend stoop kneel crouch reach and work in varied positions to access components tooling fixtures and assemblies.
• Ability to lift carry push or pull materials components tooling and equipment weighing up to 50pounds with heavier items handled using appropriate lifting equipment or team assistance.
• Ability to visually inspect components assemblies tooling and workmanship including the ability to distinguish relevant visual characteristics such as alignment defects markings labels and finishes.
• Ability to safely operate or work around common manufacturing tools machinery fixtures and equipment while following established safety procedures.
• Ability to work in environments where safety equipment such as safety glasses hearing protection gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required.
• Ability to work in a dynamic production environment that may involve exposure to moderate noise varying temperatures dust or manufacturing residues and other typical manufacturing conditions with appropriate controls and PPE provided.
• Ability to safely and effectively perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits Overview:
Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health financial security and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical dental and vision coverage retirement plans paid time off/sick and additional protections such as critical illness hospital indemnity accident coverage and short- and long-term disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability veteran status or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.