Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Motors
Neros Technologies · Torrance, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $150k–$209k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at Neros Technologies (aerospace & defense) in Torrance, CA. DFM (Design for Manufacturing): Collaborate closely with the R&D/Design team to ensure next-generation motor designs are optimized for scalable, cost-effective, and repeatable mass production.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, FMEA, Automation, Tooling
- Base pay
- $150k–$209k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $114k–$167k. This one lists $150k–$209k.
Median of the low and high ends of 117 live postings that list pay, out of 320 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 319 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 34% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $111k–$157k, from 104 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 53%
- New product launch 51%
- ✓ Root cause 40%
- ✓ Automation 35%
- Machining 29%
- CATIA / NX 29%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
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
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Neros Technologies
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 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
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
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
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: Neros Technologies in Torrance
12 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Quality Engineer Electro-Mechanical Assembly · Quality · Senior
- Senior Quality Engineer (Electronics) · Quality · Senior
- Quality Engineer Electro-Mechanical Assembly · Quality
- Quality Engineer (Electronics) · Quality
- Quality Specialist · Quality · Specialist
- SMT Process Engineer · Process
Full description from Neros TechnologiesAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you will be doing
We are seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to lead the development and expansion of our internal motor manufacturing operations. This role will lead our motor manufacturing from initial equipment bring-up through serial production. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise with hands-on execution to optimize processes and ensure scalable, high-quality output.
Responsibilities
- ◆Process Optimization: Design, implement, and continuously improve manufacturing processes, layouts, and workflows for brushless DC (BLDC) motor assembly
- ◆Production Tooling & Automation: Specify, procure, and maintain specialized production equipment (e.g., stator winding machines, magnet insertion fixtures, dynamic balancers, and automated soldering stations)
- ◆Quality & Yield Improvement: Analyze production defects, determine root causes of motor failures (such as shorts, bearing noise, or unbalance), and implement corrective actions to maximize yield
- ◆Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Create and maintain detailed work instructions, tooling documentation, and quality control checklists for assembly technicians
- ◆DFM (Design for Manufacturing): Collaborate closely with the R&D/Design team to ensure next-generation motor designs are optimized for scalable, cost-effective, and repeatable mass production
- ◆Vendor & Supply Coordination: Work with suppliers to ensure the quality and consistency of incoming raw materials (e.g., Japanese NSK/NMB bearings, Neodymium magnets, high-purity copper wiring, and aluminum bells)
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Who we are
Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.
As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.
You should have the following
- •Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
- •3 years minimum of experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally directly involving electric motors, rotating machinery, or high-precision electromechanical assembly
- •Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of brushless motor architecture (stators, rotors, magnetic circuits, KV ratings)
- •Hands-on experience with precision winding techniques and balancing equipment
- •Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Inventor) for designing jigs, fixtures, and line layouts
- •Methodologies: Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma principles, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis)
- •Soft Skills: Excellent problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, and a collaborative mindset to work effectively with both line operators and executive leadership
Nice to Have
- +Experience managing equipment vendors, particularly Mandarin-speaking suppliers
- +An established network of industry contacts for automation equipment, tooling, and metal component sourcing
- +Ability to work independently with a high level of ownership while maintaining clear and effective communication with cross-functional teams
$149,500 - $209,000 USD