The Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer Manager will lead front line engineering support for solar panel and deploy mechanism manufacturing operations across multiple shifts. This individual will manage a team of support engineers responsible for maintaining production continuity, resolving line blockers, and driving process improvements across solar array assembly, integration, and test flows.
The Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer Manager is a hands-on technical leader who provides guidance on manufacturing process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, corrective action implementation, shift coverage planning, and team development. They will ensure consistent engineering support is available across all four production shifts to minimize downtime and maintain throughput targets.
The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced production environment, is comfortable making real-time decisions to resolve manufacturing issues, and leads by example on the production floor. They possess strong communication skills and the ability to coordinate effectively across shifts, ensuring seamless handoffs and knowledge transfer between teams.
Additionally, the Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer Manager is expected to develop training programs that build team capability, establish standardized troubleshooting methodologies, and implement systems to track and eliminate recurring process issues across the solar panel and deploy mechanism production lines.
Key job responsibilities
Manage and develop a team of front line support engineers providing real-time production floor support for solar panel and deploy mechanism manufacturing lines
Ensure adequate engineering support coverage across all four production shifts, including scheduling, on-call rotations, and shift handoff protocols
Lead root cause analysis and corrective action (RCCA) efforts for line blockers and production stoppages
Identify, track, and drive resolution of recurring process issues through systematic corrective actions
Develop and maintain team training programs to build technical competency and cross-functional capability across the engineering support team
Establish and maintain standardized troubleshooting guides, work instructions, and escalation procedures
Collaborate with process owner engineers, quality, and production teams to implement process improvements that reduce downtime
Monitor production line performance metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives
Support disposition of non-conformances and implementation of containment actions
Coordinate with equipment maintenance teams to address tooling and equipment-related production impacts
Facilitate shift-to-shift communication and ensure consistent documentation of issues, actions, and resolutions
A day in the life
The Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer Manager will start their day reviewing shift handoff reports, identifying any open production issues carried over from previous shifts, and prioritizing engineering support activities. They will conduct daily stand-ups with their team to align on active line blockers, assign troubleshooting tasks, and review progress on corrective actions.
Throughout the day, they will be present on the production floor, supporting their engineers in resolving real-time manufacturing issues on the solar panel and deploy mechanism lines. When escalations occur, they will lead rapid response efforts, coordinating cross-functional resources to restore production flow. They will spend time coaching team members on root cause analysis techniques and reviewing corrective action effectiveness.
They will also dedicate time to reviewing recurring issue trends, updating training materials, validating shift coverage plans, and meeting with process owners to align on longer-term process improvements. At shift transitions, they will ensure proper handoffs occur and critical information is communicated to incoming support engineers.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, aerospace engineering, or equivalent technical discipline
- 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production engineering environment
- 2+ years of experience leading or supervising technical teams, including performance management and development
- Experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, 5-Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa)
- Experience supporting multi-shift manufacturing operations
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in aerospace, space hardware, or high-reliability manufacturing environments
- Experience with solar panel manufacturing, solar cell processing, or deployment mechanism assembly and test
- Familiarity with automated manufacturing processes and equipment troubleshooting
- Experience developing and delivering technical training programs
- Experience with production metrics tracking, KPI development, and data-driven continuous improvement
- Formal training or certification in Operational Excellence Systems (Lean, 5S, Six Sigma, etc.)
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a bias for action
- Experience managing shift schedules and ensuring 24/7 production support coverage
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across teams
- Experience with non-conformance management and corrective action systems (CAR/CAPA)
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, WA, Kirkland - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
