Engineering Project Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Ontic is a leading global aerospace OEM specializing in sustaining legacy aerospace products and manufacturing flight-critical electronic, electromechanical, and mechanical assemblies for commercial, defense, and rotorcraft platforms. We are seeking an experienced Engineering Project Manager to lead cross-functional engineering projects from initiation through production implementation while ensuring compliance with aerospace quality, regulatory, cost, and schedule requirements.

The Engineering Project Manager serves as the primary leader responsible for coordinating engineering activities, managing technical risks, and ensuring successful execution of projects involving new product introduction (NPI), product transfers, design changes, obsolescence management, qualification testing, and production support.

• Lead cross-functional engineering projects involving electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, operations, and program management.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, budgets, resource plans, and risk registers.
• Ensure projects meet technical, cost, schedule, and quality objectives.
• Facilitate project reviews, gate reviews, and executive status reporting.
• Drive accountability across functional teams to achieve project milestones.

• Coordinate engineering activities for:
  • Flight-critical electronic assemblies
  • Mechanical and electromechanical assemblies
  • Design modifications
  • Product redesigns due to component obsolescence
  • Qualification and verification testing
  • Product transfers between manufacturing sites
  • Manufacturing readiness activities
• Monitor engineering deliverables including drawings, BOMs, specifications, analysis, and test documentation.
• Ensure configuration management and document control processes are followed.

• Identify technical, manufacturing, supplier, and schedule risks.
• Develop mitigation plans and monitor risk reduction activities.
• Escalate critical issues to leadership with recommended corrective actions.
• Coordinate root cause investigations and corrective actions for engineering-related issues.

• Serve as the primary engineering interface with internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Present technical progress, schedules, and project health to leadership and customers.
• Coordinate customer technical reviews, design reviews, and qualification activities.
• Support proposal development and project planning for new business opportunities.

• Ensure engineering activities comply with:
  • AS9100 Quality Management System
  • FAA regulations where applicable
  • Military specifications
  • Customer contractual requirements
  • Configuration management requirements
  • Engineering change processes
• Support Design Reviews, Failure Review Boards, MRBs, and Corrective Action Boards as required.

• Drive improvements in engineering project execution, scheduling, and resource utilization.
• Develop standardized project management tools, metrics, and reporting.
• Apply Lean and Continuous Improvement methodologies to engineering processes.
• Capture lessons learned and implement best practices.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, or related discipline)
• 7+ years of engineering or technical project management experience in aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering development projects
• Knowledge of aerospace product development lifecycle
• Experience with engineering change management
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes for electronic and mechanical assemblies
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and ERP/MRP systems

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
• Master's degree in Engineering or Engineering Management
• Experience with legacy aerospace products
• Experience supporting FAA, DoD, or military aerospace programs
• Familiarity with DO-160 environmental qualification testing
• Experience with component obsolescence management
• Knowledge of IPC standards for electronics manufacturing
• Familiarity with configuration management tools (PLM systems such as Windchill, Teamcenter, Arena, etc.)

Preferred experience in one or more of the following:

• Flight-critical electronics
• Electromechanical assemblies
• Precision mechanical assemblies
• PCB assemblies
• Cable and wire harnesses
• Hydraulic or pneumatic components
• Qualification and environmental testing
• Manufacturing process validation
• Design verification and validation
• DFMEA/PFMEA
• Root Cause Analysis (8D, Fishbone, 5 Why)
• AS9102 First Article Inspection
• PPAP/APQP principles (where applicable)

• Engineering project leadership
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Technical decision-making
• Risk management
• Schedule development and control
• Customer communication
• Conflict resolution
• Strategic planning
• Budget management
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Systems thinking
• Strong organizational skills
• Executive-level presentation skills

The Engineering Project Manager will be evaluated on:

• On-time project delivery
• Budget adherence
• Engineering milestone completion
• Customer satisfaction
• Risk mitigation effectiveness
• Product qualification success
• Engineering change cycle time
• Manufacturing readiness
• Quality performance
• Team collaboration and stakeholder engagement

Our Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical insurance

• Competitive PTO, holiday pay, and sick leave

• Company 401K plan with up to 4% matched contribution

• Annual bonus program (varies by level and discretionary based on company and individual performance)

• Flexible working arrangements

• Paid volunteering opportunities

• Access to mental health champions across our sites

• Commitment to development

• Employee referral program

#LI-Onsite

EOE/Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Disability/Veteran

Compensation Pay Range

$140K - $180K

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Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran
Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This position must meet export control compliance requirements. To meet export control compliance requirements, a "U.S. Person " as defined by 22. C.F.R. 120.15 is required. "U.S. Person" includes U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee.