Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

At Senra Systems, we believe that the future of manufacturing lies not in automation, but in configuration.

We supercharge electrical wire harness manufacturing through software configuration, transforming skilled assembly tasks into high-throughput production lines. We enable customers to design what they want, when they want it and deliver harness builds at record-breaking speed.

Role Overview:

We're hiring a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to own and build the engineering function for a defined set of product families. This is fundamentally a people leadership and org-building role: you'll lead both the Manufacturing Engineering and Production Engineering teams across your programs, setting the standard for how engineering enables production to scale.

Your job is to build a team that executes with high technical precision and low operating friction – where documentation is complete before builds start, engineers are developing real ownership over their programs, and the floor has the support it needs to build right the first time. You'll drive that through the people, systems, and processes you put in place.

You'll report to the COO and work closely with Senra's broader engineering leadership team – including our Head of Industrial Engineering, peer ME Manager and automation teams – to align on cross-site standards and keep high-mix, high-throughput production moving. Your primary focus is the product families you own: standing up a high-performance engineering org and making your programs the benchmark for how Senra builds.

What you'll own:

Team Leadership & Org Development

• Lead, develop, and grow a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Production Engineers across your product families
• Build org structure and accountability systems: clear roles, lead development, 1:1 cadences, and performance expectations that scale with headcount
• Own hiring for your org: partner with our People team on job descriptions, interview processes, and candidate evaluation
• Develop engineers through structured feedback, documented progression, and real ownership of programs and outcomes
• Build a team culture defined by technical rigor, quality-first thinking, and continuous improvement

Engineering Execution & Standards

• Own the ME function across your programs: ensure all work is fully documented and production-ready before builds begin – complete BOMs Engineering Masters, formboards, and tooling requirements within defined SLAs
• Set and enforce documentation standards across your team; drive down authoring cycle times and eliminate documentation gaps as a source of build delays
• Own program readiness reviews, transfer gate processes, and NPI coordination in partnership with Program Management
• Hold the technical bar on work product quality – your job is to know good from bad and ensure your team does too.

Production Engineering & Floor Execution

• Own the PE function across your product families: ensure the floor has real-time engineering support during active builds – first articles, NCR disposition, kit verification, and ensuring blocked builds are resolved quickly and accurately
• Maintain clean functional lanes between ME and PE: documentation ownership at ME level, execution support at PE level, with clear handoff points
• Drive measurable reduction in rework, build holds, and production delays through structured root cause analysis and corrective action

Continuous Improvement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Industrial Engineering on process optimization, line design, throughput improvement, and capacity planning – all engineering disciplines should be aligned and driving in the same direction
• Lead engineering-driven CI initiatives: lean process design, PFMEA, 5S, time studies, and workflow optimization
• Support equipment commissioning, process qualification, and scaling of new capability across your programs
• Drive adoption and improvement of internal engineering tooling and manufacturing execution systems
• Support AS9100 compliance and audit readiness; ensure your team is working to applicable quality standards

What you'll bring to the team:

Required:

• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment – aerospace, defense, electromechanical assembly, or similar high-accountability industries
• 2+ years in an engineering leadership or management role, with demonstrated ability to build accountability, develop engineers, and drive outcomes through a team
• Enough technical fluency to hold the bar: you can review a work instruction, evaluate a build process, recognize a documentation gap, and have a credible conversation with your engineers about quality and feasibility
• Working familiarity with wire harness or electromechanical assembly processes – you don't need to be a harness specialist, but you need to understand what your team is building
• Strong cross-functional instincts: you know how to work with Operations, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain without creating friction
• Clear, direct communicator – with your team, with leadership, and with customers when needed
• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident) per ITAR requirements

Preferred:

• Experience in a high-growth or startup manufacturing environment where the org, the processes, and the facility were all being built at the same time
• Background working alongside or within an Industrial Engineering function – process optimization, time studies, line balancing, throughput analysis
• Familiarity with IPC/WHMA-A-620 workmanship standards and AS9100 quality systems
• Experience with NPI processes, program transfers, or gate-based production readiness frameworks
• Exposure to automated wire processing equipment, electrical test systems, or manufacturing execution systems in a production context
• Lean, Six Sigma, or other formal CI methodology experience

Compensation:

• Compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
• Salary Range: $170,000-$200,000
• This is an onsite role at our headquarters in Redondo Beach, CA or Cypress, CA

Benefits:

• Unmatched opportunities to drive impact on a friendly and mission-driven team
• Own a piece of the pie with equity participation!
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Spending Account (DSA) for health-related expenses
• 20 vacation days per year and 12 company holidays for rest and relaxation
• a 401(k) plan to set yourself up for retirement
• Choose a record you love, and we'll add it to our growing vinyl collection!
• $50/month DoorDash credit – lunch is on us!
• Up to $100/month reimbursement for gym memberships
• Fully stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages
• Regular team-building events, lunches, and the occasional breakfast burrito!
• Bright, open office with communal spaces for collaboration and free parking
• Conveniently located near the metro, major freeways and local dining spots

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Pay range

$170,000 - $200,000 USD