Manufacturing and Production Engineer

Manufacturing and Production Engineer

Location: Croatia or UAE (on‑site)
Employment Type: Full‑time
Compensation: Competitive (salary + benefits)

What Propels Us:

PAiREGRINE is moving from prototypes to repeatable production—building a high‑speed autonomous ISR jet UAV that must be manufactured with the same discipline it flies with. This isn’t “a lab that sometimes builds parts.” It’s a focused production reality where composite airframes, precision machining, and tight assembly flows come together with quality at the core.

The Impact You’ll Make

You will own the build reality—standing up the production cell, defining composite and machining process flows, enforcing quality discipline, and laying the path to scale. Your work turns CAD and drawings into stable yield, predictable lead times, and aircraft that are ready for the line—without over‑engineering the factory.

What will you actually do?

• Design composite manufacturing workflows (layup, cure, trim, drill) with robust work instructions and process controls.
• Plan and optimize CNC and waterjet operations—toolpaths, fixtures, programs, and throughput.
• Define assembly sequences and tooling for airframe join, subsystem install, and final integration.
• Drive yield, repeatability, and in‑process inspection, including first‑article and incoming QC.
• Integrate electrical‑mechanical builds: harness routing, bracketry, fasteners, and install standards.
• Stand up production readiness: line layout, takt planning, kitting, and material flow.
• Manage suppliers for composites, machined parts, and sub‑assemblies; qualify and monitor readiness.
• Prepare the line for rate increases—DFM/A improvements, poka‑yoke, and change control.

What You’ve Done

• Background in aerospace manufacturing with hands‑on shop‑floor ownership.
• Proven experience with composite airframes, machining, and final assembly.
• Built or refined production process designs (from pilot line to steady state).
• Comfortable creating assembly/tooling and writing clear work instructions.
• Strong quality mindset: repeatability, inspection planning, and root‑cause/Corrective Action.
• Pragmatic operator who can build a factory flow without overengineering it.

Bonus Points

• Launched a new line or stood up a greenfield cell for composites or CNC.
• Experience with waterjet and thin‑wall composite/metal stackups.
• Exposure to DFM/A, PFMEA, SPC, and production change management.
• Worked in UAV or aircraft low‑rate → rate‑up transitions.

Why Join Us

• You’ll be supported and rewarded with competitive compensation while contributing to a mission‑driven program making an impact on a global stage.
• Ship real aircraft—your process decisions show up in flight hours and mission readiness.
• Join a small, fast team where ideas move from whiteboard to workcell quickly.
• Help design a production system that scales—clean, disciplined, and built for speed.

Job Type: Full-time

Application Question(s):

• Have you personally owned or stood up manufacturing processes for aerospace hardware (composites, machined parts, or final assembly) beyond prototype builds?
• Do you have hands‑on experience with composite airframe manufacturing (e.g., layup, cure, trim, drill, or bonded assemblies)?
• Have you defined assembly sequences, tooling, or work instructions that were actually used on a production line?
• Have you been responsible for production quality or yield (first‑article inspection, in‑process QC, or root‑cause/corrective action)?

Work Location: In person