Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Senra Systems · Cypress, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $130k–$180k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior manufacturing role at Senra Systems (aerospace & defense) in Cypress, CA. You’ll develop engineering packages including detailed work instructions and formboards, drive process improvements and serve as the technical point of contact for assigned programs, working closely with production, quality and customers to deliver.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, FMEA, Automation
- Base pay
- $130k–$180k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
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 $130k–$180k.
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 16% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ 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.
Stands out: this posting asks for Kaizen, 5S, Time studies, Capacity planning, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Senra Systems
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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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: Senra Systems in Cypress
4 other open roles at this site.
- Facilities/Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Industrial Engineer · Industrial
- Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing
- Production Engineer · Production
Full description from Senra SystemsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
At Senra Systems, we believe that the future of manufacturing lies not in automation, but in configuration.
We supercharge electrical wire harness manufacturing through software configuration, transforming skilled assembly tasks into high-throughput production lines. We enable customers to design what they want, when they want it and deliver harness builds at record-breaking speed.
We’re seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to take ownership of complex wire harness programs across our customer portfolio. You’ll develop engineering packages including detailed work instructions and formboards, drive process improvements and serve as the technical point of contact for assigned programs, working closely with production, quality and customers to deliver.
You’ll own programs end-to-end – managing customer relationships, solving complex technical challenges, developing build processes, and ensuring quality and delivery targets are met. You need to be self-sufficient, technically deep, and comfortable operating with minimal direction.
This role reports to the Lead Manufacturing Engineer but operates with significant independence day-to-day.
Manufacturing Engineering & Process Development
- •Lead planning and coordination of complex harness builds by developing comprehensive work instructions, formboards, and tooling solutions
- •Establish manufacturing standards and processes that enable production to build efficiently and autonomously
- •Drive improvements to quality, efficiency, and throughput through process benchmarking and workflow optimization
- •Evaluate new parts and processes, determining optimal paths for assembly and scalability
- •Commission new equipment, qualify processes, and optimize production flow as needed
- •Partner with the production team on technical issues that require engineering disposition, providing structured solutions rather than ad hoc floor support
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Continuous Improvement & Site Operations
- •Work with the production team to surface systemic issues, translating recurring blockers into process improvements and engineering solutions
- •Collaborate with the software team on digital solutions to improve traceability, workflow, and reporting
- •Maintain 5S, lean manufacturing principles, and adherence to aerospace quality standards
- •Develop and maintain engineering documentation that keeps assigned programs aligned with IPC-620/NASA 8739.4 and customer-specific
Customer Program Management
- •Serve as the primary technical liaison between production and assigned customers
- •Manage complex technical inquiries, resolve escalated issues, and ensure adherence to stringent specifications
- •Collaborate with the Program Management Team on program reviews and customer communications, providing technical depth and engineering rationale as needed
- •Coordinate cross-functionally with production, quality, and supply chain to maintain program momentum and resolve blockers
What you'll bring to the team
- •Bachelor's degree in engineering, STEM-related field, or 8+ years of directly related hands-on manufacturing experience
- •5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in fast-paced production environments (wire harness, electrical assembly, or similar)
- •Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a high-accountability role
- •Strong customer-facing skills with ability to manage technical relationships and communicate effectively
- •Proficiency in CAD tools for creating assembly drawings and tooling designs
- •Deep understanding of manufacturing principles: material workflow optimization, PFMEA, 5S, lean manufacturing, time studies, capacity planning
- •Expert ability to evaluate parts and processes, determining optimal assembly approaches quickly
- •Self-motivated problem-solver who thrives on autonomy and takes ownership of outcomes
- •Excellent project management skills with ability to juggle multiple programs and priorities
Preferred
- +Certification or extensive experience with IPC-620 or NASA STD 8739.4 standards
- +Deep expertise in aerospace and defense wire harness best practices and quality standards
- +Experience at a contract manufacturing company managing multiple customer programs simultaneously
- +Hands-on background with complex harness fabrication, box builds, connector mates, and electrical testing — used to inform engineering decisions, not as a primary job function
- +Experience leading process improvement initiatives (Six Sigma, Kaizen) with documented efficiency gains
- +10+ years of overall manufacturing engineering experience with progressive responsibility
- +Background with MES or ERP systems
- +Supply chain coordination experience
Benefits
- •Unmatched opportunities to drive impact on a friendly and mission-driven team
- •Own a piece of the pie with equity participation!
- •Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability coverage
- •Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Spending Account (DSA) for health-related expenses
- •20 vacation days per year and 12 company holidays for rest and relaxation
- •a 401(k) plan to set yourself up for retirement
- •Choose a record you love, and we’ll add it to our growing vinyl collection!
- •$50/month DoorDash credit – lunch is on us!
- •Up to $100/month reimbursement for gym memberships
- •Fully stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages
- •Regular team-building events, lunches, and the occasional breakfast burrito!
- •Bright, open office with communal spaces for collaboration and free parking
- •Conveniently located near the metro, major freeways and local dining spots