Senior Manufacturing Engineer, DFMA - Composites

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States. The role requires extended hours and weekends as needed. ITAR eligibility or authorization to access controlled technology is required; candidates must be U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations.

Salary: $140,000–$180,000 USD per year, plus performance incentives and equity.

Company

hirify.global is a defense technology startup developing autonomous defense platforms and scalable, decentralized systems for the United States and its allies.

What you will do

• Own and maintain the Composites DFMA guide, design rules, production standards, sign-off criteria, and DFMA metrics.
• Shape vehicle architecture and composite part designs for high-rate processes, including part consolidation, poka-yoke, tooling, and value engineering.
• Develop trade studies, should-cost models, rate models, and material-utilization models to support process selection, capital planning, make-or-buy decisions, and supplier negotiations.
• Prepare technical data packages and deploy outsourced composite production lines while aligning APQP and PPAP practices with AS9100 and AS9102 requirements.
• Lead R&D on fast-cure resins, automated and net-shape preforming, dry-fiber placement, thermoplastic processing, and closed-loop cure control.
• Run designed experiments, build and test coupons and articles, assess tooling and suppliers, support FMEAs, and mentor engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Materials, or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of composite manufacturing, process, or design engineering experience for high-rate production.
• Hands-on experience with HP-RTM or another LCM process, AFP/ATL, automated preforming, or ply pick-and-place.
• Experience launching a high-rate composite part or production line through tooling, equipment, run-at-rate, and ramp.
• Experience with draping and mold-filling simulation, composite design tools, 3D CAD, GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, DOE, process capability, OEE, and gauge R&R.
• ITAR eligibility or authorization to access U.S.-controlled technology is required.

Nice to have

• MS or PhD in Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• High-volume automotive composites experience or experience with composites equipment and automation integration.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, AS9100, AS9102, formal DFMA, should-cost modeling, value engineering, Lean, or Six Sigma.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment with approximately 350 employees and a focus on rapid manufacturing innovation.
• Performance-based incentives and equity participation.
• Healthcare, dental, vision, retirement savings, and paid time off.
• Funding for continuing education, training, and career development.
• Compensation transparency and benefits aligned with the role and geographic market.