Manufacturing Engineer II full_time

Manufacturing Engineer II   

Summary

You will be part of a team of driven and enthusiastic professionals working to revolutionize access to space. Vaya Space is a purpose driven, sustainability focused, and environmentally conscious enterprise dedicated to making a difference for humankind.  Vaya’s unique vortex-hybrid rocket is projected to disrupt the market, fueled by recycled thermoplastics, removing over 7.8 metric tons of plastic from the world’s waste stream per launch. Our breakthrough and patented technologies overcome the safety, affordability, and sustainability issues to transform the space industry, making the world and space a better place.

In this role you will facilitate and optimize design and production of Launch Vehicle components for a high-growth production environment, ensuring standard manufacturing principles are practiced meeting stringent deadlines. This position will work closely and develop strong relationships with all engineering disciplines, technicians, and subject matter experts across a range of departments to enable effective integration and test of the Launch Vehicle.

To be successful, it is vital that you are comfortable working in a fast-paced and often uncertain environment, collaborating to develop innovative solutions in all areas, while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence, and attention to detail. A willingness to branch outside your comfort zone is essential… we’re a small fast-paced company and everyone pitches in when needed.

Travel Required

Up to 10%

Required Security Clearance

None (ITAR Eligible)

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage with design engineers to review and approve part and tooling assemblies, updating, and offering input based on improved Design for Manufacturing (DfM) concepts or solutions.
• Work with design engineers to develop work instructions to clearly define manufacturing process, develop training materials, and train technicians in processes.
• Apply process improvement methodologies and tools (e.g. value stream mapping, problem solving, visual management, etc.) to reduce manufacturing build hours and quality issues; increase production rates; and remove waste from processes.
• Perform capacity analysis and determine optimal staffing requirements.
• Identify, plan, and execute capital equipment, machine, and layout upgrades to the meet volume production demand.
• Interact with structural analysts to ensure performance objectives are met.
• Provide hands-on engineering support to hardware prototype development and testing.
• Design of proper material handling, packaging, and labeling to protect and identify hardware throughout the build and test process.
• Directly support testing operations and efforts, gaining opportunities to influence designs, improve processes and increase reliability.
• Develop how work is planned, controlled, and optimized in the Manufacturing Execution System.
• Design tooling, jigs, and fixtures to support parts manufacturing.
• Develop external suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure that hardware and equipment is manufactured, processed, packaged, and delivered properly, on time, and on budget.
• Operate different types of equipment such as: wire EDM, band saw, CNC machines and hand tools as required.

                                                                               Additive Manufacturing

• Research and coordinate implementation of upgraded processes and designs to take advantage of new capabilities and technology advancements.
• Programming, operating, and improving additive manufacturing machines and processes.
• Developing custom machine parameters to optimize production rate and part quality.
• Collaborate with design engineers to optimize parts for full lifecycle from print to post processing methods.
• Build up and operation of Very Large Format Fused Deposition Modeling (VLF-FDM) machines and processes in house.
• Build up and operation of Direct Laser Metal Sintering (DLMS) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) machines and processes in house.
• Develop and improve upon post processing best practices to reduce production time and improve part quality.

                                                                               Composite Manufacturing

• Develop methods for generating composite flat patterns and cut files from 3D geometry. 
• Preparation of detail design data packs including laminating books.
• Design and fabricate tools / develop techniques for hand layups and prepreg composites.
• Develop and document processes for composite filament winding and hand layups.
• Programming, operating, and improving filament winding machine and processes.
• Support design and fabrication of test coupons and test fixtures to support characterization of materials and generation of material properties. 
• Collaborate with design engineers to develop custom materials and processes to reduce production time and improve part quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or another relevant engineering discipline.
• 4+ years’ experience as a Manufacturing / Production / Process Engineer.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in parallel with dynamic priorities.
• Ability to interpret engineering models, drawings, specifications, written work instructions, and test procedures.
• Working knowledge of metal and polymer additive manufacturing processes and best practices
• Working knowledge of composites manufacturing processes and best practices.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as necessary.
• US Person as defined in 22 CFR Part 120.15 (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and those given asylum in the United States, and temporary residents granted amnesty) since work includes ITAR controlled technical data.

Preferred Skills and Education

• Proven experience in an industrial environment for the delivery from concept to manufacture of high-performance composite components and assemblies.
• Proven experience with composite design and production for spacecraft or other aerospace applications.
• Experience with CAM Programming.
• Experience with Design for Additive Manufacturing for both metal (DLMS, DED, ect) and polymeric printing (FDM) processes.
• Experience with NX and other CAD software.
• Familiarity with industry standards and references (e.g., MIL-HDBK-5/17, ECSS-E-HB-32, NASA-STD-5001, GSFC-STD-7000).