Senior Process Engineer

About the role

This role drives the industrialization of defense manufacturing by converting advanced robotics and software into sovereign production capabilities. The position operates on the shop floor to ensure processes meet defense standards at scale.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

First article inspections and process validations are performed so battle-ready products are delivered.

Metal processing knowledge including heat treating and chemical coatings is leveraged to satisfy defense specifications.

Lean and Six Sigma methodologies are employed to streamline processes and remove inefficiencies.

Requirements

US citizenship or lawful permanent residency is required.

A bachelor's degree in Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgy, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering is mandatory.

At least 3 to 5 years of process engineering experience in defense, aerospace, or complex manufacturing is required.

Hands on, on the floor problem solving is required to support the team.

Clear communication and proactive problem solving are required.

The ability to stand, walk, and lift 50 lbs in a gritty shop with heat and noise is required.

Nice to have

Knowledge of defense standards such as MIL-STD and ITAR is preferred.

Expertise in metal processing including heat treating and chemical coatings for ferrous, non-ferrous, and super alloys is preferred.

Experience with non-destructive testing methods such as ultrasonic and dye penetrant for process validation is preferred.

Six Sigma Black Belt or ASQ Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE) is preferred.

Skills & tools

Statistical process control, CpK/PPK analysis, and design of experiments are core skills.

Proficiency with Minitab, Excel, JMP, and Python supports data driven decisions.

Mastery of metal processing methods including heat treating and chemical coatings is essential.

Practical notes

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

The organization applies Lean and Six Sigma to optimize processes and remove inefficiencies.

Statistical tools such as CpK, PpK, SPC, Minitab, Excel, and R-Shiny are used for process control and analysis.

Questions to ask

Worth asking in any interview: how the team measures success, who the role works with daily, what the onboarding looks like, and what the company is trying to achieve this year. Asking what past hires did well is a strong final question. Keep the list short and pick the questions that matter most to you.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.