NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Apex

$95K — $115K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. Persons status required for access to export-controlled data
  • B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience
  • 3+ years in manufacturing engineering, NPI, or production development
  • Experience in transitioning complex hardware from prototype to production
  • Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA principles and manufacturing process development
  • Proficient in interpreting technical documents and engineering drawings
  • Hands-on experience in manufacturing process validation and troubleshooting

Responsibilities

  • Support NPI from development builds to production ramp
  • Collaborate with design and engineering for DFM/DFA feedback
  • Develop production methodologies for medium-to-high-rate spacecraft manufacturing
  • Define assembly strategies, tooling concepts, and production readiness plans
  • Assist in sourcing, commissioning, and deploying production equipment
  • Collaborate to meet cost, quality, and production rate targets
  • Establish and maintain manufacturing documentation and process controls

Benefits

  • Equity sharing opportunity with company ownership
  • 100% company-paid healthcare for employees and dependents
  • Starting 15 days paid vacation, increasing to 20+ days annually
  • Generous 401(k) matching contribution
  • 8 weeks paid parental leave and childcare reimbursement
  • Daily catered lunches and unlimited snacks available
  • Vibrant community with monthly socials and events
  • Comprehensive workplace setup for optimal productivity
  • Potential for real impact in aerospace and cutting-edge industries
Full Job Description
About the Role

Apex is seeking an experienced NPI Manufacturing Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will support the development of scalable manufacturing processes, production methodologies, tooling, and new product introduction (NPI) practices for commercial and government programs. You'll work cross-functionally with design engineering, production, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure our deliverables are manufacturable, scalable, and efficient to build.

Responsibilities:
  • Support manufacturing and NPI execution as the programs transition from development builds through production ramp
  • Partner with product design and engineering teams to provide DFM/DFA feedback throughout concept development, PDR, CDR, and release phases
  • Help develop production methodologies and process flows suitable for medium-to-high-rate spacecraft manufacturing
  • Contribute to factory development activities including workflow definition, line design, GSE planning, and equipment integration
  • Define assembly strategies, tooling concepts, work instructions, and production readiness plans
  • Support sourcing, commissioning, validation, and deployment of production equipment, tooling, and manufacturing systems
  • Work with supply chain, production, and quality teams to help meet cost, quality, reliability, and production rate targets
  • Establish and maintain manufacturing documentation, process controls, and configuration management practices in line with NPI best practices


Requirements:
  • U.S. Persons status is required, as this position needs to access export-controlled data
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
  • 3+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering, NPI, production development, or factory engineering
  • Experience transitioning complex hardware products from prototype/development builds into production
  • Strong understanding of DFM/DFA principles, manufacturing process development, and tooling design
  • Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documents
  • Hands-on experience with manufacturing process validation, integration, hardware bring-up, and production troubleshooting
  • Experience working cross-functionally with design engineering, supply chain, quality, production, and test organizations
  • Familiarity with configuration control, manufacturing documentation, process qualification, and engineering change management
  • Exposure to automation systems, production equipment, or advanced manufacturing processes
  • Experience in aerospace, satellites, robotics, automotive, or other high-complexity hardware industries
  • Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with strong ownership
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams


#LI-HC1

What We Offer For Full-time Employees:
  • Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create
  • Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
  • Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
  • Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
  • 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
  • Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day
  • Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family
  • Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self
  • World-class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in-person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life
  • Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting-edge industries to make a lasting difference

Ready to join a team where your contributions matter and your future is bright? Let's build something extraordinary together.

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