Full Time Pilot Engineer Jobs in Phoenix, AZ (NOW HIRING)

Advanced Manufacturing Engineer – New Product Introduction (NPI)

Location
Phoenix, AZ or Goodyear, AZ (On-Site)

Department
New Product Introduction

Employment Type
Full-Time | Exempt

Company Overview
GTI designs, engineers, and manufactures complex modular systems supporting energy storage, power generation, data center infrastructure, defense, and industrial markets. GTI operates an engineered-to-order, fabrication-driven manufacturing environment where disciplined New Product Introduction and production launch execution are critical to scale, cost, quality, and delivery.

Position Overview

We design and manufacture complex modular systems supporting energy storage, power generation, data center infrastructure, defense, and industrial markets. Our products don’t move from concept to production by accident. They move because manufacturing engineers own the transition.

We’re looking for an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer to lead product industrialization through disciplined NPI phase gates, from early design through production launch. This role sits at the center of engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality, with real accountability for whether a product is ready to scale.

Key Responsibilities

NPI Phase Gate Ownership & Execution

• Own manufacturing deliverables across all NPI phase gates from concept through production release
• Define manufacturing inputs required at each phase gate (design maturity, BOM completeness, routings, tooling, capacity, quality plans)
• Participate as the manufacturing authority in phase gate reviews
• Ensure products do not advance gates without required manufacturing criteria being met
• Drive accountability for unresolved manufacturing risks prior to gate approval

Product Industrialization & Manufacturing Strategy

• Translate engineering designs into executable manufacturing strategies
• Define build approaches, line flow, takt assumptions, and labor models
• Develop and validate manufacturing routings, work instructions, and process documentation
• Ensure alignment between design intent, manufacturing capability, and cost targets
• Drive design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly decisions early in development

Prototype, Pilot & Launch Builds

• Lead manufacturing execution for prototype and pilot builds
• Identify manufacturing issues during early builds and drive corrective actions
• Validate tooling, fixtures, equipment, and processes prior to scale
• Capture lessons learned and feed improvements back into design and process updates
• Support initial production ramp and stabilization

Cross-Functional NPI Leadership

• Partner with Design Engineering to influence product architecture and detail design
• Work with Supply Chain and Sourcing to validate supplier capability, lead times, and capacity
• Partner with Quality to define control plans, inspection strategies, and acceptance criteria
• Align with Operations on staffing models, training needs, and capacity planning
• Serve as the manufacturing escalation point during NPI execution

Manufacturing Risk, Cost & Capacity Management

• Identify manufacturing risks tied to process complexity, tooling, labor, or supply chain
• Support cost modeling through labor, tooling, and process assumptions
• Drive mitigation plans for cost, capacity, and schedule risks
• Support make/buy decisions and production scaling strategies

Production Release & Handoff

• Ensure all manufacturing documentation is complete and validated prior to production release
• Support formal handoff from NPI into Operations
• Train production teams on new processes, tooling, and requirements
• Remain engaged post-launch to support early production issues and ramp stability

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering within industrial or engineered product environments
• Direct experience supporting structured New Product Introduction programs
• Strong understanding of fabrication, assembly, and industrial manufacturing processes
• Experience participating in or owning NPI phase gate deliverables
• Ability to work cross-functionally and drive execution across teams
• Strong shop-floor problem solving and launch execution skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in automotive, aerospace, energy, data center, or heavy industrial OEM environments
• Experience supporting high-mix, engineered-to-order products
• Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, or similar gated product development frameworks
• Lean or Six Sigma background
• Experience supporting pilot builds and production ramps

GTI Energy is an equal opportunity employer and celebrates diversity in our workforce.