Manufacturing Engineer – Power the Future of Aerospace Innovation

Build What’s Next in Advanced Flight Systems

PDS Tech Commercial is seeking a skilled Manufacturing Engineer for a 12-month consultant opportunity in Riverside, CA, supporting a leading aerospace organization in the development of advanced metallic, composite, and propulsion-integrated structures.

In this role, you will be directly embedded in high-performance manufacturing operations, helping bridge engineering design with shop floor execution. Your work will ensure production stability, improve manufacturability, and support the successful build of complex aerospace assemblies from concept through delivery.

This is a hands-on, high-impact position where your expertise will directly influence production quality, efficiency, and program success.

What You’ll Do

You will serve as a key technical resource across manufacturing operations, driving continuous improvement and ensuring seamless execution across fabrication, assembly, and integration activities.

• Provide daily shop floor engineering support to maintain production flow, resolve issues, and protect delivery schedules
• Lead and support process standardization and continuous improvement initiatives across fabrication and assembly operations
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to disposition nonconformances and implement effective corrective actions
• Apply lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve throughput, and stabilize processes
• Develop, update, and maintain manufacturing plans, standard work instructions, tooling requirements, and process documentation
• Use digital manufacturing tools to analyze processes, support configuration control, and improve decision-making
• Support metallic fabrication, composite bonding, assembly, and integration activities across multiple aerospace systems
• Coordinate activities between Riverside and Chula Vista facilities, including regular inter-site travel

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Industrial Engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience in an aerospace production environment
• Hands-on experience with metallic and/or composite fabrication and assembly processes
• Strong shop floor engineering support experience in a production setting
• Proven ability applying lean manufacturing and structured problem-solving methods (RCCA, 5 Whys, fishbone, Kaizen)
• Strong communication skills with ability to collaborate across functions and influence without authority
• Willingness and ability to travel between facilities (up to 30%)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CATIA, Teamcenter, SAP, and Solumina
• Background working with composite material systems, bonding processes, and related equipment
• Experience supporting nacelle or aircraft structural production environments

Why Join Us

Through PDS Tech Commercial, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to some of the most advanced aerospace manufacturing programs in the industry. This role places you at the center of real-time production challenges where your expertise drives measurable impact every day.

You’ll benefit from:

• Exposure to cutting-edge aerospace fabrication, composite, and integration technologies
• A highly collaborative environment spanning engineering, operations, and quality teams
• Opportunities to strengthen your expertise in lean manufacturing and advanced production systems
• A consistent weekday schedule (Monday–Friday, first shift 6:30 AM–3:00 PM)
• Competitive pay ranging from $25.00 to $59.52 per hour

This is a role for engineers who thrive in fast-moving environments, enjoy solving complex manufacturing challenges, and want to make a tangible impact on aerospace innovation.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to bring your manufacturing expertise to a high-impact aerospace environment and help shape the future of advanced flight systems, we encourage you to apply today.

Join PDS Tech Commercial and help build what’s next in aerospace manufacturing.

This position requires use of information or access to facilities subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations may limit access of controlled technologies: 1) to U.S. Persons, including U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other narrow categories including refugees and asylees, or 2) to certain foreign nationals that have received an export license.                                               
 

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.