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The Deployables operating Unit of Northrop Grumman's Intelligence Systems Division is currently seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to work with our production team in our Goleta/Oxnard facilities.
The Manufacturing Engineer / Process Center Lead for Harnessing & Soldering is the technical owner and subject-matter expert for flight harness assemblies and associated soldering processes. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving manufacturing processes, owning workmanship standards for the harnessing cell, and leading a common work center that supports multiple programs. The Process Center Lead directs a team of harnessing technicians to meet safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives in a high-reliability flight hardware environment.
This position will be located in Goleta, CA.
Responsibilities:
Manufacturing Process & Design Support
Review and develop design, manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for flight harness assemblies.
Partner with design engineering on harness concepts, specification requirements, design-for-manufacturability (DFM), and optimal use of equipment and manufacturing techniques.
Ensure manufacturing processes and procedures comply with applicable regulations, customer requirements, and industry standards (e.g., IPC, NASA workmanship standards).
Incorporate inspection and test requirements into production plans as needed, including test coverage, verification methods and acceptance criteria.
Work Center Layout, Ownership& Optimization
Own the layout and configurationof the harnessing work center.Design and optimize the arrangement of personnel, machines, tools, and processes within the harnessing work center to maximize efficiency, throughput, and product quality.
Inspect performance of employee processes, equipment, and tools to verify efficiency and conformance to standards.
Investigate root causes andimplementcorrective actions for process problems and deficiencies.
Champion 5S, standard work, and visual controls within the harnessing cell.
Workmanship Standards & Training
Serve as a certified instructor in IPC-J-STD-001 Joint Industry Standard for soldering.
Serve as a certified instructor in NASA 8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring; capable of training technicians and quality personnel for certification.
Serve as a certified instructor in NASA 8739.1 Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies.
Provide training, coaching, and certification support to technicians and quality personnel to maintain high workmanship standards across programs.
Continuous Improvement &Data Driven Process Control
Develop manufacturing processes that are applicable to statistical process control (SPC). Develop and implement SPC techniques and control plans for critical harnessing processes.
Analyze process, yield,and test data; recommend modifications to components, tooling, or test procedures to meet desired specifications and industry standards.
Support prototype and development activities, including devising, fabricating, and assembling new or modifiedelectricalcomponents or assemblies, and setting up and testing prototype units and subassemblies under operational conditions.
Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities (cycle time, first-pass yield, scrap/rework reduction, ergonomics)
Technical Hands-On Duties & Team Leadership
Perform more than one of the following duties as required: mechanical technician, engineering technician, electronic technician, flight test technician, and/or general technician duties.
Lead a team of approximately 5–10 harnessing technicians; set priorities, assign work, and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and schedule commitments.Model best practices on the shop floor.
Provide technical direction and day‑to‑day guidance to lower‑level employees (non‑exempt and exempt) with minimal supervision.
Support staffing, skills development, and cross-training plans for the harnessing cell.
Job Characteristics
Knowledge:
Advanced technical knowledge in specialized harnessing and soldering functions. Demonstrated broad and deep understanding of both general and specific aspects of manufacturing engineering and their practical application to complex problems.
Problem Solving:
Provides technical solutions to a wide range of harnessing and soldering issues. Serves as a key resource to others in resolving complex problems and issues. Solutions are imaginative, thorough, practicable, and aligned with organizational objectives.
Supervision:
Works under minimal supervision. Provides direction and guidance to lower‑level employees and acts as a technical leader within the work center.
Discretion/Latitude: