Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Aerospace & Defence

Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Aerospace & DefenseAdvanced Manufacturing | Full-TimeLocation: Near Caledonia, Mississippi | On-SiteThe OpportunityAn established aerospace and defense manufacturer is seeking an experienced Senior Manufacturing Engineer to help advance production capabilities, introduce new manufacturing processes, and support the development of highly engineered defense systems.This is an opportunity for an engineer who enjoys being hands-on, solving complex manufacturing challenges, and seeing projects through from initial development to full-scale production.The ideal candidate brings a well-rounded manufacturing background and thrives in an environment where precision, innovation, and operational excellence are essential.What You'll Be DoingManufacturing Process Development: Design, implement, and refine manufacturing processes for precision components, fabricated structures, and complex mechanical assemblies.New Product Introduction (NPI): Lead manufacturing readiness activities, support new product launches, and facilitate successful transitions into production.Production Engineering: Provide technical expertise across CNC machining, welding, metal fabrication, and mechanical assembly operations.Technical Documentation: Develop detailed work instructions, manufacturing procedures, bills of materials (BOMs), and production documentation.Manufacturing Layout & Optimization: Support equipment placement, production floor configurations, assembly line layouts, and workflow improvements.Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to reduce production inefficiencies, improve quality, and optimize manufacturing performance using Lean and Kaizen methodologies.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering, quality, operations, and production teams to troubleshoot challenges and implement sustainable solutions.Engineering Leadership: Serve as a technical resource for manufacturing teams, providing guidance on process improvements and complex production requirements.What We're Looking For7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably within aerospace, defense, or similarly complex precision manufacturing environments.Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline preferred. Relevant technical education combined with substantial hands-on experience will also be considered.Strong working knowledge of machining, welding, fabrication, and mechanical assembly processes.Demonstrated experience developing manufacturing processes, work instructions, and production documentation.Experience supporting new product introductions, production launches, or manufacturing scale-up initiatives.Familiarity with BOM development, facility layouts, and manufacturing workflow optimization.Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives.Strong problem-solving abilities and the confidence to work directly with production teams.Must meet U.S. person requirements under ITAR, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.Why Consider This Opportunity?High-Impact Engineering: Contribute to sophisticated aerospace and defense manufacturing programs where precision and reliability matter.Technical Ownership: Take an active role in shaping manufacturing processes, improving production capabilities, and solving real-world engineering ch