NPI Manufacturing Engineer

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge. For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles. Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more. We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

Apex is seeking an experienced NPI Manufacturing Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will support the development of scalable manufacturing processes, production methodologies, tooling, and new product introduction (NPI) practices for a classified government program. You'll work cross-functionally with design engineering, production, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure our deliverables are manufacturable, scalable, and efficient to build.

Support manufacturing and NPI execution as the program transitions from development builds through production ramp Partner with product design and engineering teams to provide DFM/DFA feedback throughout concept development, PDR, CDR, and release phases Help develop production methodologies and process flows suitable for medium-to-high-rate spacecraft manufacturing Contribute to factory development activities including workflow definition, line design, GSE planning, and equipment integration Define assembly strategies, tooling concepts, work instructions, and production readiness plans Support sourcing, commissioning, validation, and deployment of production equipment, tooling, and manufacturing systems Work with supply chain, production, and quality teams to help meet cost, quality, reliability, and production rate targets Establish and maintain manufacturing documentation, process controls, and configuration management practices in line with NPI best practices Requirements: U.S. Persons status is required, as this position needs to access export-controlled data B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience 3+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering, NPI, production development, or factory engineering Experience transitioning complex hardware products from prototype/development builds into production Strong understanding of DFM/DFA principles, manufacturing process development, and tooling design Proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documents Hands-on experience with manufacturing process validation, integration, hardware bring-up, and production troubleshooting Experience working cross-functionally with design engineering, supply chain, quality, production, and test organizations Familiarity with configuration control, manufacturing documentation, process qualification, and engineering change management Exposure to automation systems, production equipment, or advanced manufacturing processes Experience in aerospace, satellites, robotics, automotive, or other high-complexity hardware industries Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with strong ownership Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams #LI-HC1 Why Join Apex? Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest