Location: The Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, CA (Onsite)
If you're interested in learning more about this opportunity or beginning the interview process, feel free to connect directly via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ra...
Industrial Engineer - EffectorsAn advanced aerospace and defense technology company is seeking an Industrial Engineer to help architect and scale next-generation production systems for high-volume autonomous and interceptor platforms.
This role is focused on factory design, production system architecture, capacity planning, and manufacturing scale-up. The ideal candidate has experience building production systems from the ground up and understands how to optimize manufacturing operations for throughput, cost, quality, and scalability.
This is a highly hands-on and high-ownership role where you'll help shape manufacturing strategy from early prototype builds through sustained high-rate production.
ResponsibilitiesFactory & Production System Design- Design scalable factory layouts optimized for flow, throughput, takt time, and operational efficiency
- Develop production cell concepts for manual, semi-automated, and automated assembly environments
- Build value stream maps and future-state production workflows
- Define workstation layouts, labor allocation models, and material flow strategies
- Design inventory flow concepts including kitting, supermarkets, and point-of-use systems
- Support production facility build-outs, line expansion planning, and manufacturing infrastructure development
Capacity Planning & Rate Scaling- Build detailed production rate and throughput models tied to manufacturing demand forecasts
- Analyze:
- Takt time
- Cycle time
- Throughput
- Bottlenecks
- Labor efficiency
- Capacity constraints
- Develop scaling strategies for pilot production, low-rate builds, and future high-volume manufacturing
- Create multi-scenario production plans supporting rate ramps and supplier scaling
- Identify manufacturing readiness risks and mitigation strategies
Production Optimization & Continuous Improvement- Implement lean manufacturing principles across production workflows
- Drive line balancing, waste reduction, and flow optimization initiatives
- Conduct time studies and labor productivity analysis
- Support OEE tracking and production performance measurement systems
- Analyze yield, throughput, cycle time, and rework metrics to improve operational efficiency
- Help develop standardized work instructions and scalable manufacturing processes
Cross-Functional Manufacturing Support- Partner closely with manufacturing engineering, supply chain, facilities, quality, and operations teams
- Participate in design-for-producibility reviews and manufacturing trade studies
- Support make-versus-buy decisions and contract manufacturing evaluations
- Assist with supplier industrialization and manufacturing readiness assessments
- Provide hands-on support during prototype builds, production ramp events, and early manufacturing operations
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline
- 5+ years of experience in factory design, production system optimization, manufacturing scale-up, or industrial engineering
- Experience building or supporting high-rate manufacturing environments
- Strong understanding of:
- Lean manufacturing
- Capacity planning
- Value stream mapping
- Takt time and cycle time analysis
- OEE measurement
- Line balancing
- Throughput optimization
- Experience supporting production ramp or greenfield manufacturing build-outs
- Experience developing production rate models using Excel, Python, VBA, simulation tools, or similar platforms
- Comfortable working in fast-paced startup or development-stage manufacturing environments
- U.S. citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance required
Preferred Experience- Aerospace, defense, automotive, robotics, semiconductor, or other high-volume manufacturing industries
- Production systems supporting complex electromechanical hardware
- Factory simulation or digital manufacturing tools such as:
- FlexSim
- AnyLogic
- Arena
- Simulink
- ERP, MES, or PLM integration experience
- High-rate automated assembly or robotics manufacturing
- Experience scaling manufacturing operations from prototype through production
- Startup or greenfield factory build-out experience
- Contract manufacturing and supplier industrialization exposure
What Makes This Opportunity UniqueThis role offers the opportunity to help build a manufacturing operation from the ground up inside a rapidly growing aerospace and defense environment.
The team is looking for engineers who understand not only how to optimize existing factories, but how to architect scalable production systems from scratch - balancing cost, throughput, automation, and manufacturability for future high-rate production.
You'll work closely with both engineering and operations leadership while helping define the long-term production strategy for next-generation hardware platforms.
Additional Information- Competitive compensation and equity package
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage
- 401(k) matching
- PTO flexibility
- Relocation assistance may be available
- Full-time onsite collaboration environment
- U.S. citizenship required due to security and export control requirements
Location: The Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, CA (Onsite)
To learn more or express interest, connect directly via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ra...
