Hardware Engineering Manager II
Sierra Nevada Corporation · Wichita, KS
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 12 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Sierra Nevada Corporation (aerospace & defense) in Wichita, KS. Support project staffing plans, schedules, budgets, bids, and estimates for proposed program work packages, including the execution of risk mitigation plans.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- CATIA / NX
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $99k–$143k.
Median of the low and high ends of 530 live postings that list pay, out of 1625 manufacturing engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 17 other live manufacturing postings in Kansas.
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 56%
- Lean 50%
- ✓ Team leadership 50%
- Tooling 50%
- Six Sigma 44%
- PLC 28%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CATIA / NX, 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 Sierra Nevada Corporation
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?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- 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.
Full description from Sierra Nevada CorporationAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.
Responsibilities
- ◆Support project staffing plans, schedules, budgets, bids, and estimates for proposed program work packages, including the execution of risk mitigation plans.
- ◆Ensure the availability and effectiveness of required tools, processes, and training to achieve program success, while aligning with SNC tools/processes and industry best practices/standards.
- ◆Manage resource allocations required for program task execution, as well as risk, issue, and challenge identification.
- ◆Collaborate with the business to determine staffing
requirements
and help source, screen, interview, and hire top engineering talent.
- ✓Execute onboarding support, training, mentorship, and career path/talent development activities for engineering discipline teams.
- ✓Provide career path support, conduct performance evaluations, and facilitate conflict resolution.
You Must Have
- ✓Bachelor's of Science degree in a related discipline
- ✓Typically, 8+ years of progressive engineering experience, which includes 4+ years of management experience.
- ✓Experience working in and leading large systems design and development teams
- ✓Experience leading the development, maturation, and approval of product level designs
- ✓Understanding of electrical systems design and hardware integration
- ✓Knowledge of industry-standard mechanical design principles
- ✓Thorough Understanding of engineering principles and practices
- ✓Experience with Computer Aided Engineering tools, analysis and simulation
- ✓Ability to work in multi-disciplinary design and development teams
- ✓Excellent communication and organizational skills
- ✓The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required
Essential Functions
- ◆Must be able to work in an office environment or hybrid setting.
- ◆Ability to travel as required (up to 10% of the time).
- ◆Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- ◆Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.
- ◆Clearly convey technical information, design specifications, and project updates to team members, stakeholders, and management.
- ◆Ability to understand technical documents, schematics, and electronic instrument measurements.
- ◆Ability to work with and collaboratively lead teams of engineers.
SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.
SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more .
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Are you dreaming about a position where you can deliver quality, meaningful results? Come be a part of our diverse, multi-disciplined team of engineers, operating in an agile environment, using the latest tools and methodologies. Develop your technical acumen as well as your leadership skills at a company with huge potential for long-term career growth. As an Engineering Manager II, you will enhance functional team performance through advanced technical leadership and problem-solving. By building high-performing teams, you will drive innovation and successful project outcomes. Your expertise in project management and risk assessment will efficiently manage complex projects, optimize resources, and mitigate risks. You will focus on process improvements, ensuring efficiency and compliance with standards. Through cross-functional collaboration and innovation management, you will align our initiatives with strategic goals. Your analytical thinking and A&D regulatory knowledge will ensure our solutions are both innovative and compliant.
The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule
We Prefer
- •Prior experience with reverse engineering tools and methods.
- •Previous management experience; exposure to recruiting employees; assigning, directing, and evaluating their work; and overseeing the development and maintenance of staff competence
- •Experience with identifying and coordinating resources to ensure the required tools, processes, and training are available/effective and programs are staffed and supported to achieve success
- •Understanding of how to prepare project schedules, budgets, bids, and estimates for proposed program work packages
- •Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, the US Department of Defense or US Military
- •Ability to motivate/work with others
- •Prior exposure to working successfully in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment emphasizing rapid prototyping and fielding of capabilities, with minimal supervision
- •Proficiency with Microsoft Project
- •Experience with CATIA 3DExperience
Important notice
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination inclu