Career

Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Advanced Manufacturing Center (Adelante II)  |  El Paso, Texas  |  Full-Time, On-Site

Build the future of American defense manufacturing — in El Paso.

ARC Aerospace & Defense Systems is a national defense technology company headquartered in El Paso, building attritable autonomous systems, counter-drone interceptors, flight computers, BLDC motors, and mission-critical electronics for national defense. Our operating philosophy is simple: Certify once. Replicate to scale.

We are hiring a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to anchor production operations at Adelante II, our ~17,000 SF Advanced Manufacturing Center, where we stand up, certify, and scale low-rate production lines for unmanned systems and their core electronics.

What You'll Do

  • Lead manufacturing engineering for the integration of fixed-wing and quadrotor UAS platforms, from kitting and subassembly through final integration, functional test, and acceptance.

  • Stand up, certify, and continuously improve component manufacturing lines for flight computers, BLDC motors, and associated electronics.

  • Own process planning and industrialization: work instructions, routings, tooling and fixture design, line layout, takt planning, and rate-readiness assessments.

  • Serve as a hands-on leader in our Quality Management System, driving day-to-day execution and continuous improvement under AS9100D, including process control, nonconformance management (NCR/CAPA), root cause and corrective action, FAI (AS9102), and internal audit support.

  • Partner with design engineering on DFM/DFA, engineering change implementation, and configuration management from prototype through low-rate production.

  • Develop and qualify suppliers and inspection methods; support incoming, in-process, and final inspection strategies.

  • Mentor manufacturing technicians and junior engineers as the team scales.

What You Bring

Required:

  • B.S. in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent experience).

  • 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or comparable regulated hardware production.

  • Significant, demonstrated knowledge of Quality Management Systems and the AS9100D process — you have lived it on a production floor, not just read the standard.

  • Hands-on experience with electromechanical assembly and integration: PCBAs, wire harnessing, motors, precision mechanical assemblies.

  • Proficiency with root cause analysis, statistical process control, and lean manufacturing methods.

Preferred:

  • Experience with UAS/drone integration, avionics, or small electric propulsion systems.

  • AS9100 internal auditor training or lead auditor certification.

  • Experience standing up new production lines or achieving first-article and line certification.

  • Familiarity with IPC-A-610/620 workmanship standards.

Why ARC

Mission that matters. Your work goes directly into systems that defend the nation.

Ground-floor impact. We are scaling rapidly — the lines you certify become the template we replicate.

El Paso proud. We are building a world-class defense manufacturing hub right here in the borderland, with deep roots in the region and its talent.

Competitive salary, benefits, and growth opportunities in a fast-moving, engineering-driven company.

How to Apply

Send your resume and a brief note about your AS9100D and production line experience to career@arc-aerospace.us with the subject line “Senior Manufacturing Engineer — Adelante II.” Applicant must be a US Citizen.