Head of Production Engineering - Scalable Aerospace ManufacturingFort Worth, Texas | On-site
Opportunity SummaryA fast-growing aerospace and defense company developing advanced unmanned aircraft systems is seeking a Head of Production Engineering to lead scalable manufacturing strategy across next-generation aerospace platforms. This role will serve as the primary technical authority responsible for ensuring aircraft designs are optimized for manufacturability, production repeatability, and long-term manufacturing scalability from early development through rate production. The position is heavily focused on design for manufacturing, production system architecture, tooling validation, process standardization, and manufacturing readiness. The engineer will drive the development of repeatable aerospace production methods while partnering closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to improve build efficiency, reduce complexity, and support rapid production growth. This is a highly hands-on leadership role suited for someone experienced in aerospace manufacturing execution, production ramp environments, and scaling complex hardware programs.
Job Duties- Lead production engineering strategy across aircraft structures, assemblies, and integrated aerospace systems
- Drive design for manufacturing initiatives to improve producibility, assembly efficiency, and manufacturing scalability
- Develop and standardize production processes, assembly flows, tooling concepts, and manufacturing methodologies
- Establish scalable manufacturing systems capable of supporting prototype, low-rate, and full-rate production environments
- Create and maintain work instructions, manufacturing documentation, process flows, and production procedures
- Oversee validation of CNC machining strategies, composite tooling methods, fixtures, and manufacturing processes
- Ensure digital engineering definitions accurately translate into manufacturable hardware with minimal iteration or rework
- Resolve tolerance, fitment, assembly, and production-related issues before release into manufacturing
- Support configuration control, production readiness activities, and manufacturing release processes
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, labor efficiency, yield improvement, and cost reduction
- Identify production bottlenecks and implement scalable process improvements across manufacturing operations
- Work closely with design engineering, quality, supply chain, and production teams to align engineering intent with manufacturing execution
- Support manufacturing ramp planning and long-term production scalability initiatives
Qualifications- 8+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing engineering, production engineering, or advanced manufacturing environments
- Strong background supporting aircraft, aerospace structures, or complex electromechanical hardware systems
- Demonstrated experience implementing design for manufacturing principles within aerospace production environments
- Hands-on experience with CNC machining, tooling development, composite manufacturing, or precision assembly processes
- Experience transitioning aerospace hardware from prototype development into scalable production
- Strong understanding of manufacturing tolerances, fixture design, process validation, and production workflows
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical discipline
- Comfortable working directly within manufacturing and production environments
- Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
Preferred Experience- Experience supporting unmanned aircraft systems or aerospace vehicle manufacturing
- Background in production ramp environments, low-rate initial production, or high-rate manufacturing systems
- Familiarity with aerospace configuration management and controlled production documentation
- Experience validating tooling, fixtures, tool paths, and manufacturing process capability
- Exposure to design-to-cost initiatives and scalable manufacturing strategy
- Experience supporting composite structures, integrated assemblies, or advanced aerospace manufacturing systems
Compensation Details$150,000 - $190,000
#LI-AV
