Senior Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Manager | Aerospace & Autonomous Systems

Job Summary

WingXpand is expanding its capabilities in autonomous systems, focusing on long-endurance, backpackable smart plane drones and robotics systems for defense, public safety, disaster response, and commercial missions. The company is seeking a Senior Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the factory, processes, and team responsible for manufacturing their aircraft and robotic platforms.

About the Role

This role involves leading manufacturing engineering and day-to-day production operations, developing scalable manufacturing processes, building and leading a high-performing production team, partnering with engineering to transition new products from prototype to production, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring products are built safely, consistently, and to the highest quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing engineering and day to day production operations
• Develop scalable manufacturing processes that improve throughput, quality, and efficiency
• Build, mentor, and lead a high performing production team
• Partner with engineering to transition new products from prototype into production
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing, tooling, workflows, and assembly
• Develop work instructions, manufacturing documentation, and standardized production processes
• Identify bottlenecks and rapidly implement practical solutions
• Collaborate with supply chain to ensure materials are available to meet production schedules
• Track manufacturing metrics and drive data-informed operational improvements

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• 5 to 10+ years of experience leading manufacturing engineering or production operations in aerospace, robotics, electronics, or advanced manufacturing
• Experience scaling products from prototype through production
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, production planning, quality systems, and process development
• Experience leading technical teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and leadership skills
• Bias for action with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Experience implementing or operating within AS9100D Quality Management Systems
• Experience with ISO 9001 quality systems and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience with configuration management and document control in regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience leading internal quality audits and preparing organizations for third-party certification audits
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, and Value Stream Mapping
• Experience supporting DoD or aerospace manufacturing programs with strict quality and traceability requirements, including DoW manufacturing readiness audits
• Experience manufacturing UAV, aerospace, robotics, or electromechanical products
• Experience with composite manufacturing and lightweight structures
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or MES systems
• Experience with design for manufacturability and new product introduction
• Experience implementing lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies
• Experience working in a startup or other rapidly scaling manufacturing environment

Qualifications

• U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder)

Skills

• Self-motivated and results-driven
• Passionate about innovation and technology