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Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Heven AeroTech · Winchester, VA

Level
Senior
Team
Manufacturing
Degree
Required
Experience asked
7+ years
Industry
Aerospace & defense
Posted
21 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior manufacturing role at Heven AeroTech (aerospace & defense) in Winchester, VA. Hands-On Assembly & Design Feedback: Build prototypes and initial production units to learn optimal assembly sequences, tooling, jigs, and fixture needs.

They ask for
7+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, Root cause, FMEA, Tooling

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Virginia: typical posted base $98k–$150k.

Median of the low and high ends of 13 live postings that list pay, out of 35 manufacturing engineer openings in Virginia, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Virginia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 34 other live manufacturing postings in Virginia.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $86k–$150k, from 11 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
More than usual (7+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Tooling 46%
  • ✓ New product launch 46%
  • ✓ Lean 31%
  • ✓ Root cause 26%
  • Automation 23%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for SolidWorks, AutoCAD, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 7+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Heven AeroTech

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
    • How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: Heven AeroTech in Winchester

4 other open roles at this site.

Full description from Heven AeroTechAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

  • ◆New Product Introduction (NPI): Act as the liaison between engineering and production to integrate new designs into manufacturing. Support early-stage builds by physically assembling parts to validate design intent and process feasibility. In addition, supporting the NPI through to the flight testing group to validate the NPI project.
  • ◆Hands-On Assembly & Design Feedback: Build prototypes and initial production units to learn optimal assembly sequences, tooling, jigs, and fixture needs. Provide clear, actionable feedback to design engineers to improve manufacturability and ease of assembly.
  • ◆Work Instructions and Documentation: Create and maintain detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions and related documentation using tools such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Experience working directly with technical writers to transition work instructions into forms that ensure process traceability by recording work performed in travelers, logs, or digital systems a plus. May mentor others in best practices for documentation quality and version control.
  • ◆Process Development and Optimization: Design and refine manufacturing processes and assembly flows. Implement lean principles to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Determine tooling and fixture requirements, and work with internal or external partners to develop or procure them. Lead scoped process improvement projects across subsystems or platforms.
  • ◆Work Instructions and Documentation: Create and maintain detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions and related documentation using tools such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Experience working directly with technical writers to transition initial work instructions into XML-based documentation system to ensure traceability; experience with travelers, logs, or digital systems a plus. May mentor production staff in best practices for documentation quality and version control.
  • ◆Training and Support: Train assembly leads and technicians on new products, processes, and equipment. Troubleshoot production issues and act as a hands-on technical resource on the shop floor. Good interpersonal skills are highly desired in this role to act as a peer mentor to both technicians and junior engineers.
  • ◆Quality and Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues and nonconformances. Drive continuous improvement initiatives using methodologies such as Six Sigma, 5S, and PFMEA. Champion structured root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
  • ◆Ensure Compliance and Safety: Ensure that all manufacturing activities comply with safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements. Support the development of safe work procedures and tooling evaluations.
  • ◆Tooling and Jig design involving CAD Designs (Solidworks) and development to support manufacturing as needed
  • ◆Other duties as assigned.

Required

  • ✓Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field. (or a demonstrated equivalence)
  • ✓Experience: 7+ years of experience in a manufacturing engineering role, preferably in a high mix, low-volume, or complex assembly environment. Experience specific to UAS is a big plus.
  • ✓Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of DFM principles, lean manufacturing, and process optimization. Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work cross-functionally. Proficient in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and ERP/MRP systems.
  • ✓Professional working proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required to perform the

responsibilities

of this role.

  • ◆This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without e
Show full description ↓

Title: Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Company: Heven AeroTech

Location: Winchester, VA

FLSA: Exempt

About Our Company

At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don’t just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we’ve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart —those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team.

Role Summary

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in bridging the gap between design engineering and production operations. This position is responsible for ensuring that new product designs are effectively transitioned into the manufacturing environment with a focus on manufacturability, cost efficiency, quality, and scalability. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will evaluate product designs, optimize assembly processes, develop detailed work instructions, and provide hands-on support and training to production teams. This role requires strong technical expertise, excellent communication skills, and a continuous improvement mindset.

This is a highly experienced engineering role embedded within the Operations team, with deep expertise in assembly processes, process optimization, and New-Product Introduction (NPI).

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer brings a strong understanding of lean methods, CAD/ERP workflows, and production system requirements, and leads scoped NPI projects and subsystem readiness across the product lifecycle. The role supports engineering excellence through hands-on problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and peer mentorship, while delivering high quality documentation, tooling plans, and on-the-floor support to ensure build success.

Essential

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