Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Job description

**Lead Manufacturing Engineer** **About Manastu** Manastu Space is a **Space Safety and Logistics company** focused on making space **safe, sustainable, and accessible** . We develop technologies to address critical challenges such as **space debris mitigation and green propulsion** , enabling safer satellite operations and long-term sustainability of the space ecosystem. **Website:** https://www.manastuspace.com **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/manastu-space/ **Email:** careers@manastuspace.com **Role Overview** The Lead Manufacturing Engineer is a senior technical and managerial role at Manastu Space, responsible for owning the end-to-end manufacturability of propulsion hardware — from design sign-off to vendor delivery and shop floor execution. This role leads the manufacturing engineering team, sets technical standards, and acts as the primary interface between Manufacturing, Design, QA, and Procurement. **Location:** Mumbai, India **Key Responsibilities** **1. Design for Manufacturability (DFM)** - Own DFM sign-off for all thruster and injector designs; set team-wide DFM standards and guidelines. - Approve design iterations from a manufacturability standpoint before release to production. **2. Manufacturing Process Planning** - Approve all manufacturing process plans; define machining strategy direction for complex and critical parts. - Standardize process plan templates across the team; resolve escalated process planning issues. - Review and sign off on setup sheets and work instructions before use on the shop floor. **3. Vendor Management** - Own vendor relationships, performance monitoring, and vendor selection decisions. - Lead RFQ process and conduct periodic vendor audits and technical reviews. - Manage critical delivery escalations; lead vendor visits for strategic and critical parts. - Approve and sign off on outsourced parts before they enter the production flow. **4. Quality & Inspection Oversight** - Define inspection strategy for critical propulsion parts; sign off on FAI and non-conformance dispositions. - Interface with QA leadership on quality standards; drive root cause analysis for systemic defects. - Review and approve corrective action plans; track closure of open defects. **5. Rapid Prototyping & R&D Support** - Prioritize and plan rapid prototyping cycles; decide on alternate manufacturing methods (EDM, additive manufacturing, etc.). - Align R&D timelines with manufacturing readiness; allocate team resources for design iterations. **6. Documentation & Traceability** - Establish and enforce documentation standards; own document control and version management system. - Ensure traceability framework for all critical propulsion components; review and approve critical documents. **7. Cross-Functional Leadership** - Represent Manufacturing in design reviews and program reviews; act as single point of contact for manufacturing escalations. - Align with Design, QA, and Procurement leadership; manage team workload and prioritization. **8. Cost Reduction & Continuous Improvement** - Own team-level cost reduction targets; identify and prioritize high-impact manufacturing improvement projects. - Approve design and process changes for cost reduction; report efficiency metrics to HoD. **9. Safety, Standards & Compliance** - Own safety culture and compliance for the manufacturing team; lead safety reviews for new processes and equipment. - Ensure team adherence to aerospace and propulsion industry standards (AS9100D); interface with EHS function. **Skills & Requirements** - 8-10 years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in aerospace, defence, or space propulsion. - Expert-level CNC machining knowledge (VMC & CNC turning) — strategy definition, approvals, and escalation resolution. - Proven team leadership and cross-functional management capability (mandatory). - Strong GD&T proficiency — able to review, interpret, and approve complex engineering drawings and tolerance specifications. - Vendor management experience: audit execution, RFQ ownership, and supplier performance management. - Working knowledge of high-temperature and exotic materials (Inconel, stainless steel alloys) for process approvals and standard-setting. - Strategic understanding of flow-critical geometries for injector orifices and channels. h.B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical or Production Engineering; M.Tech / MBA is a plus. **Ideal Candidate Profile** - Technically strong leader who balances deep manufacturing expertise with the ability to manage people, vendors, and cross-functional priorities. - Decisive and accountable — comfortable owning sign-offs, approvals, and escalations with full responsibility. - Systems thinker who can see beyond individual parts to set standards and frameworks that scale with the team. - Passionate about precision manufacturing for space applications and motivated by Manastu's mission.