Manufacturing Engineering Manager – Production

About the role

STARK is seeking a visionary Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the transition of next‑generation unmanned systems from concept to high‑volume production. You will work at the critical intersection of R&D and operations, ensuring designs are optimized for automated, scalable manufacturing.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with R&D during prototyping to provide manufacturing feasibility feedback.
• Champion Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) to create products ready for automated assembly.
• Define technical specifications, author RFPs, and select automation equipment, robotics, and tooling vendors.
• Manage CapEx budgets, track milestones, and ensure timely delivery of capital equipment.
• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) to verify equipment performance.
• Establish SLAs, warranty terms, and maintenance strategies for long‑term equipment reliability.
• Oversee pilot line builds and scale them to full production.

Required profile

• Proven experience bridging R&D and manufacturing in high‑tech or defense environments.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on budget and timeline adherence.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams and external vendors.

Required skills

• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA)
• Automation equipment specification
• Robotics and tooling design
• Vendor and capital equipment management
• Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
• Service Level Agreement (SLA) negotiation and lifecycle management