Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Manufacturing engineer jobs in Los Angeles are concentrated in the aerospace and defense corridor along the South Bay, the industrial zones of Vernon and Commerce, and the advanced manufacturing hubs near Carson and Torrance. Demand is steady across aerospace components, medical devices, and consumer electronics, with Apex Technology, K2 Space, and Hermeus among those actively hiring. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.
The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.
With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we'd love for you to apply.
The Role
You'll be at the heart of bringing flight hardware to life. Embedded in the day-to-day build of solar modules and photovoltaic arrays, you'll work side-by-side with technicians and senior engineers to turn design into reality. From shaping build processes to solving hands-on manufacturing challenges in real time, your work will directly impact the performance and reliability of hardware destined for space.
This role is built for someone who learns quickly, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and wants to take ownership early. You'll develop deep technical intuition, contribute to systems that scale, and grow into increasingly complex challenges as we push towards higher-rate production in an environment unlike anywhere else.
Responsibilities
- Support assembly and build of solar modules, photovoltaic array subassemblies, and related hardware to documented process procedures
- Identify and escalate build anomalies, non-conformances, and process deviations, supporting root cause investigations
- Work closely with Quality and Production teams to maintain build cadence and ensure hardware meets acceptance criteria
- Support tooling inspection, maintenance, and readiness activities for solar manufacturing operations
- Create custom tools and processes to support the manufacturing technologies you create including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software
- Contribute to continuous improvement efforts by flagging friction points in existing processes and proposing solutions
- Develop and maintain work instructions, process documentation, and build procedures
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, materials or other relevant engineering discipline
- 2+ years of experience in a high-volume manufacturing, production, or hands-on engineering environment
- Strong hands-on aptitude and willingness to work directly with hardware on the production floor
- Exposure to precision assembly or electromechanical integration processes
- Ability to read engineering drawings, schematics, and technical documentation
- Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds
Nice to Have
- Hands-on experience with solar handling, lamination, or photovoltaic module assembly
- Exposure to space, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
- Experience designing hardware for manufacturability
- Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up including driving design improvements for manufacturing
- Experience working closely with technicians and build tooling
- Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent) and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
- Experience working with MES to set up the foundation for procedure creation and documenting non-conformances
Compensation and Benefits:
- Base salary range for this role is $100,000 – $140,000 + equity in the company
- Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
- Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!
If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
Export Compliance
As defined in the ITAR, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person."
The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
Equal Opportunity
K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
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Find Manufacturing Engineer JobsManufacturing Engineer Job Market in Los Angeles
Who's Hiring
- Apex Technology4
- K2 Space3K
- Hermeus2H
- Freeform2
- inversion2I
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense1
- Technology & Software1
- Consulting & Professional Services1
Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a manufacturing engineer job in Los Angeles?
Focus your search on the aerospace and defense sector in the South Bay, medical device companies clustered around the greater Los Angeles basin, and consumer electronics manufacturers in the region. Candidates with experience in lean manufacturing, DFM, or AS9100 quality systems stand out here. Attending local Society of Manufacturing Engineers chapter events and building connections at companies in Torrance, Carson, and Vernon can accelerate your job search considerably.
Which companies hire manufacturing engineers in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles manufacturing engineer roles are posted by Apex Technology, K2 Space, and Hermeus and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The Los Angeles market includes a strong mix of large aerospace primes, defense contractors, and mid-size medical device and industrial equipment manufacturers spread across the South Bay and eastern industrial corridors.
Are there remote manufacturing engineer jobs in Los Angeles?
Yes, but only partially. Manufacturing engineers typically need to be on the production floor for process oversight, tooling validation, and equipment troubleshooting, so fully remote roles are rare. About 0% of manufacturing engineer openings tied to Los Angeles are remote or hybrid as of July 2026. The most remote-eligible portions of the role tend to be CAD work, documentation, and supplier coordination rather than floor-level process engineering.
How can I get a manufacturing engineer job in Los Angeles with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Los Angeles is targeting manufacturing engineer associate or process technician roles at aerospace suppliers and defense subcontractors in the South Bay, which often hire recent engineering graduates. Community college co-op programs through institutions like El Camino College feed directly into local manufacturers. Familiarity with SolidWorks, GD&T, or lean principles gives candidates a clear edge over applicants with only coursework and no hands-on exposure.
Which industries hire the most manufacturing engineers in Los Angeles?
Most manufacturing engineer openings in Los Angeles sit in Aerospace & Defense, Technology & Software, and Consulting & Professional Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Los Angeles's legacy as an aerospace hub and its growing medical device sector drive sustained demand, with defense contracts and commercial aviation supply chains keeping hiring active across the South Bay and surrounding industrial areas.
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