Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Sagetech Avionics develops and delivers advanced transponder and IFF systems for military and civil aircraft as well as advanced collision avoidance solutions. Our products enable secure, reliable airspace integration for crewed and uncrewed platforms worldwide. We’re entering a major growth phase with our first full-rate defense production contract — the AN / APX-128 IFF transponder — and are building a world-class production and test capability to deliver it.

The Lead Manufacturing Engineer will lead Sagetech’s transition from prototype to full-rate defense production for the AN / APX-128. This role owns all aspects of manufacturing process design, test and validation, quality integration, and production readiness for Sagetech’s avionics hardware, including legacy XP and MX production lines and the new AN / APX-128 line.

You’ll build the engineering systems, people, and processes that turn design into a lean process that is repeatable for certified product delivery. This position will be responsible for sustainment engineering of Sagetech’s released products, including leading or participating in continuous improvement activities as well as technical troubleshooting. This is a hands-on leadership role reporting to the Director of Operations with a dotted line to the Chief Technology Officer.

• Responsibilities and Objectives of this Role

AN / APX-128 Production Line

• Lead the product launch of AN / APX-128 to bring documentation, product maturity, test process and test automation to MRL 10.
• Define inspection, test and process controls and work with Quality Manager to ensure compliance with AS 9100D, FAA and Department of War DCMA production requirements.
• Work with Quality Manager to implement CAR process and prepare for DCMA audit.
• Responsible for First Article Inspection and Production Line Validation.
• Lead ESS Design and process documentation.
• Provide technical support and onsite supplier audit support during the selection and approval of new production suppliers.
• Lead production contract execution for AN / APX-128 to include monthly performance and cost reporting and quality metrics.
• Work with development engineering team on Engineering Change Proposals as necessary to improve manufacturability and maintainability of the AN / APX-128.
• Based on engineering design documents, create technical data packages consisting of work instructions and procedures.  Ensure BOMs are accurately translated to the ERP system.

Sustainment Engineering

• Identify critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics and assist quality team with incorporating into incoming material and production inspection criteria.
• Work with production staff to ensure processes are robust and can be completed efficiently using production tooling.  Identify and implement opportunities to improve or upgrade production equipment, tooling and fixtures in support of operational improvement, cost and quality objectives.
• Design, prototype and occasionally fabricate production fixtures and tooling.
• Review engineering design changes and coordinate with different engineering disciplines as necessary to implement those changes in production.  Ensure engineering specifications are accurately reflected in production documentation, and that production capability (CPK) enables high quality and repeatable production output.
• Act as primary liaison between the production and engineering departments.
• Approve manufacturing process changes, authorize new, modified, or deviations from processes for producing and calibrating compliant products.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Required Skills and Qualifications
• BS degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Circuit board design and debugging experience.
• Solid works design experience.
• 5+ years experience in either engineering or testing of avionics equipment.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Solid written and oral communications skills.
• Proficient with personal computers and Microsoft Office products.
• Lean / Six Sigma experience desired.
• DoW Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) experience desired.
• Python programming, Java or other script programming experience desired.