Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Engineer

Transformational Security, LLC is seeking a talented and motivated Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Engineer to join our dynamic team. The DFM Engineer will oversee the introduction of new products from concept through production, ensuring alignment with design, quality, and manufacturing standards. The DFM Engineer will play a key role in ensuring product designs are optimized for manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and high-quality production. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product design, quality assurance, supply chain, and production, to influence design decisions, streamline manufacturing processes, and support New Product Introductions (NPI). This is a hands-on role that requires a deep understanding of DFM, DFT, NPI, and continuous process improvement within a small, agile company setting.

Key Responsibilities
* Design for Manufacturability: Evaluate product designs for manufacturability, identifying opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and ensure design feasibility in a low-volume, high-mix environment. Work closely with design engineers to propose design modifications that improve production efficiency and product quality.
* Design for Test (DFT): Collaborate with design teams to ensure products are designed with testing in mind, developing and implementing strategies that improve testability and reduce issues during assembly and final inspection.
* New Product Introduction (NPI): Lead and support NPI efforts from initial concept through prototyping and full-scale production. Ensure manufacturability considerations are incorporated early in the design phase to prevent costly redesigns and delays.
* Supplier Assessments & Collaboration: Perform supplier assessments and work closely with external vendors to evaluate capabilities and quality. Ensure suppliers can meet our manufacturing standards and timelines. Establish clear communication channels between suppliers, design teams, and production to ensure smooth execution of projects.
* Production Process Development & Improvement: Develop and optimize production processes for both existing and new products. Identify areas for improvement in assembly, test, and production lines, driving efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring consistency in quality. Introduce best practices for small-batch production processes.
* Configuration Management: Work closely with engineering and production teams to ensure effective configuration management of product designs and documentation. Maintain control over design revisions, product configuration changes, and BOM (Bill of Materials) management, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information is accessible across all teams. Support the development of change control processes and ensure compliance with configuration management best practices.
* Quality & Reliability: Ensure product designs meet the company's quality standards. Participate in failure analysis and root cause investigations to resolve product quality issues. Implement corrective actions and preventive measures to continuously improve product reliability.

Preferred Qualifications
* Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree or additional certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar is a plus.
* 5+ years of experience in a DFM or manufacturing engineering role, preferably in a high-mix, low-volume environment. Experience with DFM, DFT, NPI, production process development, quality control processes, and configuration management.
* Strong knowledge of Design for Manufacturing principles and techniques.
* Experience with production process development for complex electro-mechanical assemblies.
* Familiarity with various manufacturing processes (e.g., CNC machining, injection molding, PCB fabrication, and SMT assembly).
* Ability to analyze complex technical challenges, identify root causes, and implement solutions. Strong attention to detail and ability to balance multiple projects under tight timelines.
* Experience in configuration management, including version control, product lifecycle management (PLM) systems, and change control processes.
* Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
* Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively with internal teams, suppliers, and customers in a collaborative, solutions-driven manner.