Manufacturing Engineer II and Project Lead

PURPOSE

The Manufacturing Engineer II and Project Lead provides on-site manufacturing-engineering support for Lourdes' defense wire-harness and electromechanical assembly operations in Tucson. The role develops and improves manufacturing processes, documentation, tooling, test methods, labor standards, and production flow to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

The position independently leads manufacturing and continuous-improvement projects, supports daily production execution, and develops readiness for broader operational leadership as the Tucson operation grows.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES/AUTHORITY

• · Manufacturing Process Ownership: Develop, validate, and improve processes for wire-harness, cable, and electromechanical assemblies, including cutting, stripping, crimping, soldering, shielding, labeling, lacing, potting, molding, continuity testing, and final assembly.
• · Production Documentation: Create and maintain accurate work instructions, routers, visual aids, manufacturing BOMs, process specifications, labor standards, and production records under applicable configuration controls.
• · Production Support: Provide timely floor support to resolve technical questions, process interruptions, tooling problems, workmanship concerns, and production constraints.
• · NPI and Change Implementation: Lead manufacturing readiness for new products, prototypes, first articles, and engineering changes; verify that tooling, documentation, materials, training, inspection, and test requirements are complete before release.
• · Quality and Corrective Action: Analyze defects, rework, scrap, first-pass yield, and customer returns; lead structured root-cause investigations and implement effective corrective and preventive actions with Quality.
• · Tooling and Equipment: Define, develop, and qualify fixtures, tooling, test setups, and operator aids; coordinate equipment maintenance, calibration, and qualification requirements.
• · Continuous Improvement: Improve labor efficiency, throughput, capacity, ergonomics, production flow, and process capability using standard work, line balancing, Lean methods, and data-driven problem solving.
• · Project Leadership: Establish project plans, coordinate cross-functional actions, manage milestones and risks, and communicate status for manufacturing transfers, capacity expansion, cost reduction, NPI, and process-improvement projects.
• · Operational Leadership Development: Support daily Tier meetings, production priorities, staffing and training plans, schedule-recovery actions, and escalation management; provide defined backup coverage after completing required training and demonstrating readiness.
• · Authority: Stop work or place affected material on hold for an immediate safety, quality, or compliance concern; process manufacturing, design, or configuration changes through established approval requirements.
• ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• · Develop process-training materials and skills matrices; train or coordinate training and verify qualification before independent work.
• · Participate in technical reviews with operations, quality, customers, suppliers, and Lourdes or Spartan functions and close assigned actions on time.
• · Support production planning, capacity analysis, FMEAs, control plans, make-versus-buy evaluations, and production-readiness reviews.
• · Participate in internal, customer, and AS9100 audits and maintain accurate engineering, project, and production records.
• · Promote workplace safety, product integrity, FOD prevention, 5S, and individual responsibility for workmanship.
• · Perform other related duties consistent with the position and business needs.
• KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• Category
• Representative Measures
• Safety and Compliance
• Safety actions, audit support, process-control compliance, training completion, and documentation accuracy.
• Quality
• First-pass yield, defects, scrap, rework, corrective-action effectiveness, and customer escapes.
• Delivery and Flow
• Throughput, cycle time, schedule recovery, constraint reduction, and production-readiness completion.
• Cost and Productivity
• Labor efficiency, standard accuracy, cost-reduction benefits, tooling performance, and capacity improvement.
• Projects and People
• Milestone attainment, action closure, operator qualification, cross-training, and leadership-readiness progress.
• EDUCATION
• · Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline is required.
• EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Required:
• · Three to five years of manufacturing-engineering experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or another high-reliability regulated environment.
• · Experience supporting wire-harness, cable, electromechanical, or electronic assembly; two or more years is strongly preferred.
• · Demonstrated ability to create work instructions, routers, BOMs, labor standards, and manufacturing-process documentation.
• · Experience supporting NPI, first articles, prototypes, engineering changes, and production-readiness activities.
• · Working knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, AS9100, and applicable customer requirements.
• · Experience with structured root-cause analysis, corrective action, Lean methods, PFMEA, and process control.
• · Ability to interpret engineering drawings, wiring diagrams, specifications, and technical data packages.
• · Demonstrated project leadership, technical writing, data analysis, and cross-functional communication skills.
• · Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• · Ability to satisfy applicable export-control requirements and obtain required customer facility access.
• Preferred:
• · IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification, or ability to obtain required certification within 12 months.
• · CAD, schematic or wiring diagram, fixture-design, test-equipment, or electrical test experience.
• · Prior team-lead, project-lead, or production-leadership experience.
• · Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent applied continuous-improvement experience.
• · Experience with manufacturing transfers, capacity expansion, or supplier industrialization.
• PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
• · Hands-on and comfortable working directly with production employees.
• · Demonstrates sound technical judgment, structured problem solving, ownership, and attention to detail.
• · Communicates complex issues clearly and builds effective relationships across technical and nontechnical teams.
• · Coaches others constructively and demonstrates interest and potential for broader manufacturing-operations leadership.
• PHYSICAL AND WORK REQUIREMENTS
• · Regular on-site presence is required at the Tucson manufacturing facility.
• · Ability to work in office, laboratory, and light-manufacturing environments and use required personal protective equipment.
• · Ability to stand or walk for extended periods and occasionally lift or move items up to 30 pounds using available assistance.
• · Schedule flexibility to support production needs and occasional travel to Lourdes, Spartan, supplier, or customer facilities.
• · Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.
• REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
• · Reports to: Operations Manager, Tucson with indirect reporting to VP of Engineering.
• · Direct reports: None initially; leads cross-functional projects and may provide technical direction and defined backup leadership.
• · Works closely with Quality, Program Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, customers, and other Lourdes and Spartan functions.
• · FLSA classification: Exempt.

EOE- (D/V)

Pay: $85,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have team lead, project lead, or manufacturing leadership experience?
• Do you have experience coordinating cross-functional teams (Engineering, Quality, Production, Planning, Supply Chain)?
• Do you have experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment?
• Do you have experience with one or more of the following standards?

IPC/WHMA-A-620

J-STD-001

AS9100

None of the Above

• Do you possess a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field?
• Do you currently hold an IPC/WHMA-A-620 certification?

Yes

No

Previously Certified

• Are you able to work on-site in Tucson, Arizona?

Yes / No

Work Location: In person