Production Process Engineer

Readiness Delivered. At Kratos, we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit balanced with discipline. We work hard, and take care of our customers, employees, and families. Recognized as thought leaders in our industry, we are motivated by creating and delivering innovative solutions to our nation and global customers. Kratos Space builds hardware that communicates with satellites in orbit. The Production Process Engineer helps define how that hardware gets built on the floor, bridging the gap between what designers specify and what production can execute repeatedly and reliably.

This role sits between Engineering and the production floor. Youll develop and maintain the processes, work instructions, tooling, and build documentation that turn complex hardware designs into consistent production builds. This is hands-on work with real hardware, not theoretical process improvement. Youll work within the Production Engineering team and partner closely with Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T), Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management. Day to day, that means supporting production, solving issues, and keeping work moving. Longer term, it means improving the process so the same problems dont keep coming back.

Success in this role means better process stability, clearer documentation, fewer repeat defects, shorter cycle times, and smoother transitions from design into production.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and improve manufacturing processes across the product lifecycle, starting in the design phase.
• Serve as the process engineering interface between Production and Engineering, influencing designs for manufacturability, quality, cost, and schedule.
• Build and maintain the build document package: work instructions, travelers, and assembly documentation that are clear, accurate, and usable on the floor.
• Provide regular floor support to AI&T teams, resolving technical issues, reinforcing process adherence, and keeping production moving.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, production aids, and visual controls that improve repeatability, quality, and throughput.
• Support design reviews, DFM assessments, production readiness reviews, and new product introduction.
• Lead targeted improvements in process stability, cycle time, workflow efficiency, and defect reduction using production data and floor feedback.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions in partnership with Engineering, Quality, and Program Management.
• Ensure process changes are properly documented, reviewed, approved, and implemented through configuration management.
• Maintain manufacturing processes and documentation in compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable standards.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3-7 years of hands-on manufacturing, process engineering, or production engineering experience in a hardware manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to translate engineering drawings, BOMs, schematics, and ECOs into effective assembly work instructions.
• Strong problem-solving skills: root cause analysis, corrective action, and production troubleshooting.
• Comfortable managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills across Engineering, Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program teams.
• U.S. Citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Background in low-volume, high-mix hardware manufacturing.
• Experience with MES, ERP, or manufacturing execution tools (Promis, Workstream, Epicor, or similar).
• Experience developing tooling, fixtures, test aids, or visual controls; familiarity with production test equipment is a plus.
• Working knowledge of engineering drawings, revision control, ECO processes, and CAD or GD&T.
• Involvement in new product introduction, DFM, or transition-to-production activities.
• Familiarity with mechanical assembly practices: torque control, bonding, sealing, labeling, and workmanship standards. Exposure to IPC-A-610, IPC-A-620, or J-STD-001 is a plus.
• Practical exposure to PFMEA, control plans, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process improvement methods.

Why This Role

At Kratos Space, Production Process Engineering plays a direct role in turning complex hardware designs into reliable, repeatable production builds. This role offers hands-on ownership of manufacturing processes, close partnership with Engineering and AI&T, and the opportunity to improve how mission-critical hardware moves from design into production.

#LI-Onsite

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range: $83,000-$104,000

Kratos is valued for our ability to design and deliver leading edge, resilient solutions for aerospace communication, control, awareness and mission success across a continuum of offeringsfrom commercial to tailored custom solutions and integrated programs. Customers trust us to stay relevant and know we are in it for the long-haul. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.