Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Position Overview

Sorian Aerospace is building a high-performance fighter-class jet for adversary air (Red Air) missions and advanced pilot training. As Lead Manufacturing & Machining Engineer, you will own production across development, test, and pre-certification phases – overseeing machining, tooling, and assembly workflows while building scalable processes that enable rapid innovation without compromising quality. Note: U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required due to regulatory constraints.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all machining and manufacturing operations from prototype through production.
• Build fast, flexible processes for early development and rapid iteration.
• Transition designs from test articles to production-ready hardware.
• Implement QA systems that meet aerospace tolerances without slowing progress.
• Drive DFM and simplicity into upstream engineering workflows.
• Manage tooling strategy, shop equipment, and decisions between in-house and outsourced fabrication.
• Hire, train, and lead a high-output team of machinists and manufacturing engineers.
• Deliver production-grade hardware on aggressive timelines.
• Build a flexible, scalable manufacturing pipeline that adapts to change.
• Integrate DFM feedback into engineering cycles to reduce cost and complexity.
• Maintain high-quality standards while supporting fast-paced development.

Required Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in aerospace or high-performance manufacturing.
• Proven ability to run prototype shops and scale toward low-rate production.
• Deep knowledge of tolerances, GD&T, inspection, and quality control systems.
• Hands-on experience with CNC machining, composites, and other aerospace materials.
• Familiarity with DFM, lean principles, and ERP/MRP systems.
• Comfortable owning timelines and delivering under pressure.

Benefits & Perks

• $200,000–$250,000 base salary
• Meaningful equity
• Complete healthcare benefits for you and your dependents
• Full-time position based in Long Beach, CA (evenings and weekends may be required during build, integration, or test milestones)

Company Core Values

We run it hotter. We run it faster. We simplify systems. We eliminate complexity. We deliver hardware that works. Execution is the culture – we expect leaders to be hands-on, fast-moving, and accountable from day one.