{"id":3474572,"url":"https://alion.io/job/space-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer","title":"Senior Manufacturing Engineer","company":{"id":685289,"name":"Space Kinetic","domain":"spacekinetic.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacekinetic","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":95,"open_postings":34,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":145,"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["El Segundo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":110000,"max_usd":207000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":6333},"experience_years_min":7,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AS9100","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-29T17:58:03Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-30T20:31:00Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"A New Paradigm For Space Operations.\nWho We Are:\nSpace Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations - one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different - an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures - where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.\nThis is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.\nWhat You’ll Do:\nAs a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a key role in transitioning Space Kinetic from prototype development to scalable production. You will develop manufacturing processes, improve production efficiency, implement automation, and help build the manufacturing infrastructure needed to support future production.Working closely with Engineering, Machine Shop, Supply Chain, and Operations, you will help ensure our products are designed for manufacturability while continuously improving quality, efficiency, and throughput.This is an opportunity to build manufacturing systems from the ground up inside one of the most exciting aerospace startups in the industry. \nJob Responsibilities:\nManufacturing Process Development \nDevelop manufacturing processes that support prototype builds and future production \nDrive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) improvements with engineering teams \nCreate standardized work instructions, manufacturing documentation, and production procedures \nDevelop manufacturing plans for new products and engineering releases \nProduction Scale-Up \nEvaluate current designs and manufacturing methods to prepare for higher-rate production \nDevelop manufacturing strategies that improve quality, repeatability, and throughput \nIdentify opportunities for automation and advanced manufacturing technologies \nSupport production readiness for future manufacturing expansion \nAutomation & Continuous Improvement \nHelp implement automation across machining and manufacturing operations \nImprove factory layout, workflow, and production efficiency \nDevelop Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives \nEliminate bottlenecks and improve manufacturing productivity \nManufacturing Operations Support \nPartner with engineering to resolve manufacturing issues and improve product designs \nTroubleshoot production challenges and support root cause investigations \nSupport machining, assembly, testing, and integration activities \nWork closely with Supply Chain to improve manufacturability and material flow \nFactory Development \nHelp establish manufacturing processes, organization, and best practices as the company scales \nRecommend tooling, fixtures, equipment, and capital improvements \nSupport long-term planning for production growth and manufacturing capacity \nWhat It Takes:\nBachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline \n7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience \nExperience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other high-performance manufacturing environments \nStrong understanding of machining, fabrication, assembly, and production processes \nExperience implementing Design for Manufacturability (DFM) \nExperience supporting new product introduction (NPI) \nKnowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies \nExperience with ERP/MRP systems \nExcellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills \nComfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment \nU.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident \nWhat We'd Love:\nAerospace or spacecraft manufacturing experience \nExperience transitioning products from prototype to production \nExperience implementing automation in manufacturing environments \nCNC machining and fixture design experience \nKnowledge of AS9100 manufacturing environments \nExperience developing manufacturing work cells and production lines \nExperience with robotics or automated manufacturing systems \nPassion for building manufacturing organizations from the ground up \nAbility to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment where wearing multiple hats is expected\nWhere You’ll Be:\nThe position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. Domestic travel may be required, approximately 25% to 40% of the year.\nWhat We Offer:\nEquity-Based Compensation\n401(k) retirement plan with a 3.5% company match\nHighly Competitive PTO\nPaid company holidays + winter break \nComprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance\nUnique Performance-based bonus opportunities\nITAR Requirements:\nTo 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 ITAR here.\nEqual Employment Opportunity:\nSpace Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.\nThe annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. \nPay Range\n$125,000—$155,000 USD","description_format":"text","description_chars":6481,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":7,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Retirement plans","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Missiles","Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-29T18:23:52Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":145,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-30T05:48:23Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/space-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/space-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-30T22:13:16Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":12857,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-31T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":685289},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=685289"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fspace-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fspace-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fspace-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/space-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspace-kinetic-senior-manufacturing-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3474572}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"spacekinetic.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3474572},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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