Vice President, Manufacturing Engineering

Performance Drone Works (PDW) designs, engineers, and manufactures custom small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for the modern warfighter. PDW is proudly American owned, with all product design, engineering, and manufacturing performed domestically.

Role Summary

PDW is seeking a hands-on Vice President of Manufacturing Engineering to lead industrialization, process engineering, automation, tooling, and manufacturing test across multiple sUAS product lines in Huntsville, Alabama (On-site) . The ideal candidate is a proven leader who has translated complex electromechanical products from prototype into scalable, compliant, and cost-effective production.

The VP of Manufacturing Engineering owns the manufacturing engineering strategy from DFM/DFX and line architecture through tooling, process validation, transfer to production, and sustained yield improvement; while building the technical organization, standards, and execution discipline required to support growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop manufacturing engineering, test engineering, industrialization, tooling, automation, and sustaining process engineering teams; establish technical standards, accountability, and execution rigor.
• Own manufacturing engineering strategy for subassembly, final assembly, and end-of-line test across multiple sUAS platforms.
• Lead NPI industrialization from concept through rate production: drive DFM/DFX, process flows, PFMEA, control plans, work instructions, pilot builds, validation, and ramp readiness.
• Define and execute line architecture, equipment selection, tooling and fixture design, automation strategy, and manufacturing test systems for new and existing programs.
• Partner with Product Engineering to drive DFM/DFT/DFX, design simplification, assembly methods, tolerance stack-ups, and producibility decisions early in development.
• Establish process capability and validation discipline, including process characterization, gage strategy, first article readiness, and clear acceptance criteria.
• Own manufacturing process documentation and configuration control, including BOM and routing readiness, work instruction quality, ECO/ECN implementation, and audit-ready records.
• Lead yield improvement, defect reduction, cycle-time optimization, and root-cause investigations using structured problem-solving and data-driven analysis.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Quality to deploy robust process controls, in-process verification, traceability, and corrective action in a high-reliability environment.
• Partner with Manufacturing Systems and Automation to enable digital work instructions, production data capture, traceability, and ERP/MRP process integrity (NetSuite preferred).
• Establish capacity models, labor standards, line balancing, and CapEx roadmaps to support launches and production scaling.
• Support supplier and contract manufacturer industrialization, including process reviews, tooling and test readiness, first article support, and transfer-to-production oversight.
• Build and manage the manufacturing engineering operating cadence: KPI dashboards, technical reviews, budgets, vendor partnerships, and talent development plans.

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive manufacturing engineering, industrialization, or advanced manufacturing leadership experience in electronics and/or electromechanical assembly.
• Proven success leading NPI transfer-to-production efforts and scaling complex hardware manufacturing in aerospace/defense, robotics, automotive, or similar environments.
• Deep hands-on experience with line design, tooling, fixturing, automation, manufacturing test, process validation, and ramp-to-rate execution.
• Strong command of Lean manufacturing, PFMEA, control plans, standard work, and structured problem-solving methodologies; SPC/DOE experience preferred.
• Experience operating in regulated or high-reliability manufacturing environments with strong traceability, configuration control, and audit readiness requirements.
• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP and manufacturing systems for discrete manufacturing (NetSuite preferred), including BOMs, routings, work orders, and engineering changes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and executives through ambiguity and rapid growth.
• Ability to lead on-site in Huntsville, Alabama, and operate as a visible, floor-level manufacturing engineering executive.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive EV, or advanced mobility manufacturing experience.
• Experience scaling products from prototype and pilot builds to high-volume annual production.
• Background with sUAS, avionics, batteries, RF payloads, or mission-critical electronics integration.

ITAR Requirement

In compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR), candidates must be U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), or individuals granted asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Compensation And Benefits

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage (80% sponsored by the company).
• Safe Harbor 401(k) with company match and equity participation.
• Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options.
• A relaxed work environment that encourages individuality and innovation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.