Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Control Systems

Long Beach · USD 120,000-194,000 · 3+ years experience · Full-time · Onsite · Posted Sep 28, 2026

At a glance

The Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Control Systems (TCS) will lead the team responsible for the development, production, and integration of thermal control hardware for artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.
This role reports to the Manager, Structures & Fluids Manufacturing and involves both team leadership and hands-on hardware development.

Lead the TCS manufacturing engineering team day to day, including setting priorities, assigning ownership, and mentoring engineers.
Participate in hiring and onboarding new engineers.
Own manufacturing development, production readiness, and build execution for TCS hardware such as pumps, fluid loops, coldplates, heaters, and tubing.
Manage the TCS manufacturing schedule and build sequencing across concurrent vehicle builds.
Report hardware status, risks, and mitigation plans to program leadership.
Partner with design engineering to drive design for manufacturing and assembly from early design trades through flight hardware.
Drive development and qualification of special processes including welding, brazing, tube bending, cleaning, passivation, leak testing, and pressure testing.
Set standards for work instructions, inspection plans, and nonconformance disposition.
Drive root cause and corrective action to closure.
Support supplier development and manufacturing readiness for externally produced components.

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or science discipline.
5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, production engineering, or hardware development for fluid, thermal, environmental control, or life support systems.
3+ years of hands-on hardware experience supporting fabrication, assembly, integration, and/or testing.
Experience developing manufacturing processes, work instructions, build plans, or production documentation for complex hardware.
Experience mentoring engineers or leading a workstream, build, or small team.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.

Master’s degree in an engineering discipline.
Experience as a technical lead, project lead, or informal team lead on hardware programs.
Experience participating in hiring and interviewing engineers.
Strong interest in developing into a people manager.
Experience supporting production or build execution for aerospace, spacecraft, propulsion, ECLSS, thermal, or fluid hardware.
Experience with rotating machinery, soft goods, flexible ducting, seals, or insulation.
Experience with structural analysis methods including hand calculations, FEMAP, or ANSYS.
Strong experience with design for manufacturing and assembly, production readiness, and manufacturing risk reduction.