Lead Process Engineer

Job Summary

We are seeking a Lead Process Engineer for a direct hire opportunity in Temecula, CA, supporting high-precision manufacturing for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications. This role is ideal for an engineering professional with a strong background in materials science, metallurgy, manufacturing engineering, or chemical engineering who enjoys solving complex process challenges and improving production performance.

The Lead Process Engineer will develop, optimize, validate, and sustain manufacturing processes used in precision optical components, coatings, and assemblies. This is a highly collaborative environment with strong cross-functional teamwork across Manufacturing, Quality, Production, and Engineering. The role offers the opportunity to influence process strategy, improve yields, support advanced manufacturing technologies, and provide technical leadership in a stable, quality-focused operation.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who values supportive leadership, technical challenge, process ownership, and the ability to make a measurable impact on product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and operational reliability.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop, implement, validate, and continuously improve manufacturing processes for precision optical components, coatings, and assemblies.
- Analyze production data, process trends, and manufacturing metrics to identify opportunities for yield improvement, cost reduction, and throughput gains.
- Support vacuum coating, electroforming, plating, machining, finishing, and related operations through process optimization and troubleshooting.
- Lead root cause analysis for process deviations, nonconformances, and quality issues, including support for CAPA and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Create and maintain SOPs, work instructions, process flow diagrams, control plans, manufacturing specifications, and technical reports.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Production, Engineering, suppliers, and customers to resolve technical issues and ensure process consistency and product conformity.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $110,000 to $140,000 per year.
- Job type: Direct hire.
- Location: Temecula, CA.

Guiding Principles and Core Values: UP HIRE
Understanding Matters.
We actively listen to each other, our STEM professionals, and customers. We take the time to understand their needs to make the best connections in the industry.

People Matter.
People are at the center of our company. All decisions we make are in the best of interest of our employees, co-workers, communities, candidates and customers.

Honesty Matters.
We conduct our business with integrity and DO the right things. We ARE trustworthy partners WHO stand behind our work and people.

Innovation Matters.
We are disciplined in bringing forward new thought and solutions that guide the industry and grow our company. Continued growth secures sustainability that provides solid careers for our employees, stability for our STEM professionals, and reliability to our customers.

Relationships Matter.
We take personal responsibility for all relationships with our employees, co-workers, STEM professionals and customers. Courtesy, dignity and respect EQUAL high performance results.

Everything Matters.
We hold ourselves accountable to perform with the upmost of professionalism, attention to detail, and highest standard of service. We hit our targets and do what we say we will do.