Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer
Hayward, California, United States$145k - $219kFull-timePosted 2mo ago
About the role
Senior Process Engineer leading development, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes for Skydio’s autonomous products, from NPI through high-volume production, focusing on efficiency, capacity, and scalable solutions.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, development, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes to support safe, efficient, and high-quality production.
- Drive New Product Introduction (NPI) activities by developing manufacturing processes, production line layouts, tooling requirements, labor models, and ramp plans from prototype through mass production.
- Develop and maintain standardized work instructions and manufacturing documentation that ensure repeatable, high-quality production processes.
- Conduct time studies using methodologies such as MODAPTS, MOST, or traditional stopwatch studies to establish labor standards and identify productivity improvement opportunities.
- Perform capacity studies, line balancing, and production modeling to identify bottlenecks and ensure manufacturing readiness to meet production demand.
- Analyze Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), cycle times, and production performance metrics to drive throughput improvements and maximize equipment utilization.
- Lead cross-functional process improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve ergonomics, enhance product quality, and increase operational efficiency.
- Partner closely with Manufacturing Design Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, and Test Engineering to successfully introduce new products and implement engineering changes.
- Manage multiple manufacturing improvement projects from concept through implementation, balancing scope, schedule, resources, and measurable business outcomes.
- Support production by rapidly troubleshooting manufacturing issues, implementing corrective actions, and driving sustainable process improvements.
- Develop business cases for capital equipment, automation, tooling, and process improvements that improve productivity, quality, and manufacturing scalability.
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians while promoting engineering best practices across the manufacturing organization.
Qualifications
- 7+ years experience developing and optimizing manufacturing processes throughout the full product lifecycle, from New Product Introduction (NPI) through high-volume production.
- Hands-on experience conducting time studies using MOST, MODAPTS, predetermined motion time systems (PMTS), or traditional industrial engineering methodologies.
- Strong knowledge of standard work development, labor balancing, work measurement, and continuous improvement techniques.
- Experience performing capacity analysis, production planning, line balancing, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) analysis to improve manufacturing performance.
- Demonstrated project management experience leading cross-functional manufacturing initiatives from planning through execution.
- Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles, including value stream mapping, waste elimination, visual management, root cause analysis, and Kaizen methodologies.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or similar manufacturing software.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in and experience using SQL, Power BI, Python, or other data analysis tools to drive operational decisions.
- Ability to develop and interpret manufacturing layouts, process flows, and facility models using CAD or similar design software.
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Enthusiasm for hands-on manufacturing, continuous improvement, and solving complex technical challenges in a fast-paced production environment.
- Flexibility to support production operations and occasional off-shift manufacturing activities as needed.
- Obtaining FAA Part 107 certification within the first 60 days of employment is strongly encouraged for all Skydio employees and required for certain positions.
Skills
Required:Manufacturing process developmentTime study methodologiesLean ManufacturingOEE analysisProject managementData analysisCAD/Facility modeling
Nice to have:ERP/MRP systems
Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Equity in the form of stock options
- Comprehensive benefits packages
- Relocation assistance may be provided for eligible roles
- Paid vacation time, sick leave, holiday pay and 401K savings plan
Last updated Aug 27, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About Skydio
A family of flying robots.
AI-powered autonomous drones for Drone as First Responder (DFR), critical infrastructure inspection, tactical ISR, site security, surveying and mapping
DronesAutonomous SystemsInspectionSecurityMappingPublic SafetyNational Security
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