Approach Venture · 1 week ago
Principal Manufacturing Engineer - High-Volume Composites Production
Los Angeles, CA, US
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$140K/yr - $200K/yr
4+ years expApproach Venture is a fast-moving defense-focused startup developing innovative manufacturing processes for advanced composite structures. They are seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead the design and deployment of composite manufacturing lines, ensuring operational excellence and driving production efficiency in a mission-driven environment.
Management Consulting
Responsibilities
Lead the design, build, and deployment of composite manufacturing lines from pilot to higher-rate production
Establish stable, repeatable processes to achieve consistent yield, quality, and cycle time performance
Develop and maintain detailed work instructions, routings, and production documentation
Specify tooling, fixtures, and process parameters to support efficient manufacturing
Drive line optimization efforts including takt balancing, changeover reduction, and throughput improvements
Track production metrics and implement corrective actions when performance deviates from targets
Partner with quality, machining, and automation teams to improve reliability and reduce scrap
Support production line ramp-ups at internal and external facilities as needed
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem-solving tools
Mentor and guide technicians and junior engineers on the manufacturing floor
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or a related engineering field
4+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering or production scale-up
Proven experience optimizing production lines for yield, reliability, and efficiency
Background in bringing products from early production into higher-volume manufacturing
Strong experience creating work instructions and maintaining production documentation
Familiarity with SPC, first article inspections, FMEA, and root cause analysis methods
Experience implementing 5S or similar workplace organization systems
Ability to support production line launches across multiple U.S. locations
Comfortable working in fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environments
Preferred
Composite materials manufacturing and process development
CNC or manual machining experience
Process engineering in molding or advanced fabrication environments
Experience specifying custom tooling and fixtures
Working with external suppliers or in-house machine shops
Exposure to ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems
Benefits
Stock options
Paid time off
401k with employer matching up to 4 percent
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Company
Approach Venture
Enabling founding teams building the future of frontier technology to achieve their full potential.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Bryce Dabbs
Founder & CEO
Tristan Cembrinski
Partner
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