Manufacturing Engineer - Radar Systems

Location: Hawthorne, California, United States

Department: Engineering

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. 

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

• Serve as the primary manufacturing engineering authority on the radar production floor.
• Own day-to-day build execution, integration support, and yield improvement.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership during assembly, integration, and test operations.
• Rapidly resolve build issues, escapes, and rate constraints.
• Drive continuous improvement across radar subassembly and system-level integration.
• Bridge engineering intent and factory execution.

Responsibilities: 

• Production Floor Support
  • Provide direct floor support to radar assembly, integration, and test operations.
  • Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and RF integration issues in real time.
  • Drive containment and corrective actions for build escapes and test failures.
  • Disposition nonconformances in partnership with Quality, Design, and Mission Engineering.
  • Support rework development and repair processes.
• Yield & Performance Improvement
  • Analyze RF test yield, environmental test results, and integration failure trends.
  • Identify recurring defects and systemic process weaknesses.
  • Lead root cause investigations (8D, RCCA).
  • Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
  • Drive measurable improvements in:
    • First-pass yield
    • Cycle time
    • Rework rates
    • Throughput
• Process Development & Optimization
  • Develop and refine:
    • Work instructions
    • Assembly process flows
    • Integration sequences
    • Standard Work
    • Design and improve fixtures, tooling, and test interfaces.
    • Implement poka-yoke and error-proofing strategies.
    • Support introduction of automation where appropriate.
• Factory & Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Interface daily with:
    • Production technicians
    • Quality
    • Test
    • Design engineering
    • Supply chain
    • Support supplier-related production issues affecting floor operations.
    • Participate in daily production reviews and rate readiness discussions.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related STEM field.
• 3–7+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, or complex electromechanical production.
• Hands-on experience supporting production floor operations.
• Strong troubleshooting capability across mechanical and electronic assemblies.
• Demonstrated experience implementing DFMA principles
• Experience developing manufacturing documentation (mBOMs, work instructions, process flows)
• Working knowledge of:
• GD&T interpretation
• Root cause methodologies (8D, RCCA, Fishbone)
• Process capability metrics
  • Reading engineering drawings and schematics
• Experience creating and updating work instructions and process documentation.
• S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain DoD clearance.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with radar systems, RF hardware, or complex electronic assemblies.
• Experience supporting integration and environmental test operations.
• Familiarity with:
• RF troubleshooting fundamentals
• PCBA integration
• Harness and connector best practices
• Thermal interface materials and structural assembly practices
• IPC certification exposure (preferred)
• Experience with
• SOLIDWORKS or equivalent CAD tools
• Operating in low-rate initial production (LRIP) or rate ramp environments.
• MES, PLM, or ERP systems.
• Conducting formal MRL assessments

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 200 employees and counting across 5 global offices

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. 

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

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