Manufacturing Engineer – Process Center Lead Harnessing & Soldering - Level 2

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The Deployables operating Unit of Northrop Grumman's Intelligence Systems Division is currently seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to work with our production team in our Goleta/Oxnard facilities.

The Manufacturing Engineer / Process Center Lead for Harnessing & Soldering is the technical owner and subject-matter expert for flight harness assemblies and associated soldering processes. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving manufacturing processes, owning workmanship standards for the harnessing cell, and leading a common work center that supports multiple programs. The Process Center Lead directs a team of harnessing technicians to meet safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives in a high-reliability flight hardware environment. 

This position will be located in Goleta, CA.

Responsibilities:  

Manufacturing Process & Design Support  

• Review and develop design, manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for flight harness assemblies.  

• Partner with design engineering on harness concepts, specification requirements, design-for-manufacturability (DFM), and optimal use of equipment and manufacturing techniques. 

• Ensure manufacturing processes and procedures comply with applicable regulations, customer requirements, and industry standards (e.g., IPC, NASA workmanship standards).  

• Incorporate inspection and test requirements into production plans as needed, including test coverage, verification methods and acceptance criteria. 

Work Center Layout, Ownership & Optimization  

• Own the layout and configuration of the harnessing work center. Design and optimize the arrangement of personnel, machines, tools, and processes within the harnessing work center to maximize efficiency, throughput, and product quality.  

• Inspect performance of employee processes, equipment, and tools to verify efficiency and conformance to standards.  

• Investigate root causes and implement corrective actions for process problems and deficiencies. 

• Champion 5S, standard work, and visual controls within the harnessing cell. 

Workmanship Standards & Training  

• Serve as a certified instructor in IPC-J-STD-001 Joint Industry Standard for soldering.  

• Serve as a certified instructor in NASA 8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring; capable of training technicians and quality personnel for certification.  

• Serve as a certified instructor in NASA 8739.1 Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies.  

• Provide training, coaching, and certification support to technicians and quality personnel to maintain high workmanship standards across programs. 

Continuous Improvement & Data Driven Process Control  

• Develop manufacturing processes that are applicable to statistical process control (SPC). Develop and implement SPC techniques and control plans for critical harnessing processes. 

• Analyze process, yield, and test data; recommend modifications to components, tooling, or test procedures to meet desired specifications and industry standards.  

• Support prototype and development activities, including devising, fabricating, and assembling new or modified electrical components or assemblies, and setting up and testing prototype units and subassemblies under operational conditions. 

• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities (cycle time, first-pass yield, scrap/rework reduction, ergonomics) 

Technical Hands-On Duties & Team Leadership  

• Perform more than one of the following duties as required: mechanical technician, engineering technician, electronic technician, flight test technician, and/or general technician duties.  

• Lead a team of approximately 5–10 harnessing technicians; set priorities, assign work, and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and schedule commitments. Model best practices on the shop floor.  

• Provide technical direction and day‑to‑day guidance to lower‑level employees (non‑exempt and exempt) with minimal supervision. 

• Support staffing, skills development, and cross-training plans for the harnessing cell.  

Job Characteristics  

• Knowledge:  

Advanced technical knowledge in specialized harnessing and soldering functions. Demonstrated broad and deep understanding of both general and specific aspects of manufacturing engineering and their practical application to complex problems.  

• Problem Solving:  

Provides technical solutions to a wide range of harnessing and soldering issues. Serves as a key resource to others in resolving complex problems and issues. Solutions are imaginative, thorough, practicable, and aligned with organizational objectives.  

• Supervision:  

Works under minimal supervision. Provides direction and guidance to lower‑level employees and acts as a technical leader within the work center.  

• Discretion/Latitude:  

Works under general direction, independently determining and developing approaches to solutions. Work is reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.  

• Impact:  

Contributes directly to the successful completion of specific programs and projects. Failure to obtain results or erroneous decisions/recommendations would typically result in serious program delays and significant expenditure of resources.  

• Liaison:  

Maintains frequent inter‑organizational and external customer contacts. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects.  

Basic Qualifications  

• High School diploma or equivalent and 6 years of relevant experience;  

• 2 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Science

• Demonstrated ability to perform more than one of the following duties: mechanical technician, engineering technician, electronic technician, flight test technician, and/or general technician duties.  

Required:  

• Certified IPC Trainer (CIT/MIT) in IPC-J-STD-001 Joint Industry Standard for soldering. 

Preferred Qualifications:  

• IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum Certification 

• IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS/CIT IPC Certification  

• WHMA-A-620ES CIS/CIT Space Addendum IPC Certification 

• Certified Level B instructor in NASA 8739.1 Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies.  

• Certified Level B instructor in NASA 8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring.  

• Experience or certification with NASA 8739.3 (preferred).