Manufacturing Jobs in Kitchener, ON (NOW HIRING)

Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Waterloo, ON

About Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC)

Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation (CSMC) is building the capabilities that will shape Canada's future in space, defence, and energy. We focus on developing dual-use systems that address critical challenges here on Earth while enabling sustained human activity beyond it.

In a short time, CSMC has established real momentum. We have secured significant government investment to advance next-generation micro nuclear reactor technologies in partnership with leading institutions, while continuing to expand a portfolio of technologies designed for remote environments, national defence, and future space missions. These efforts reflect a broader ambition to deliver reliable power and critical infrastructure where it matters most.

Our work is grounded in close collaboration with government and guided by a clear sense of purpose: building sovereign capability at a time when it has never been more important. We care deeply about execution, long-term impact, and earning the trust required to deliver systems that will serve Canada and its allies for decades.

CSMC is a company for builders. We are a team drawn to hard problems, meaningful impact, and the opportunity to shape systems that matter at a national and global scale. We thrive in ambiguity, value execution, and are motivated by mission and impact.

About the Role

CSMC is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to lead the development of manufacturing systems and processes for next-generation energy technologies and other mission-critical hardware. This is not a traditional manufacturing engineering role focused on improving mature production lines. Instead, you will help define how complex hardware is built from the ground up.

You will work at the intersection of design engineering, production, quality, and supply chain to establish new manufacturing cells, develop fabrication and assembly processes, qualify production methods, and support the transition from prototype through production. This role requires a hands-on engineer who can take ownership of manufacturing challenges in an environment where many of the answers have yet to be defined.

This role is ideal for someone who has previously helped launch a new product, production line, manufacturing cell, or facility in industries such as aerospace, space systems, automotive, defence, or other highly regulated environments. We are looking for builders who thrive in ambiguity, enjoy solving first-of-a-kind manufacturing challenges, and can transform engineering concepts into production-ready systems.

We are not looking for someone to optimize an existing factory. We're looking for someone to help build the manufacturing system for a product and industry that largely doesn't exist today.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing System Development

• Lead the development of manufacturing strategies for new and complex hardware systems from prototype through production
• Design and implement new manufacturing cells, workflows, and production processes for first-of-a-kind products
• Define equipment, tooling, fixtures, workstations, and facility requirements to support manufacturing operations
• Develop manufacturing plans, build sequences, process flows, and work instructions
• Partner with design teams to ensure products are designed for manufacturability, assembly, inspection, and scalability
• Establish manufacturing requirements early in the product development lifecycle

Production Launch & Manufacturing Readiness

• Drive manufacturing readiness activities for new product introductions and technology development programs
• Support prototype builds while identifying and resolving manufacturing constraints early in the development cycle
• Establish process qualification and validation plans to support repeatable production
• Lead first-article builds, production trials, and manufacturing acceptance activities
• Define raw material specifications, sourcing requirements, and traceability requirements for highly engineered and regulated products
• Partner with Supply Chain and suppliers to establish approved materials, manufacturing standards, and quality requirements to support production readiness
• Assess supplier capabilities, material availability, and procurement risks, developing mitigation strategies prior to production launch
• Identify manufacturing risks and develop mitigation strategies prior to production launch
• Support the transition from development programs to scalable manufacturing capability

Fabrication, Welding & Quality

• Develop manufacturing approaches for fabricated, welded, machined, and high-integrity assemblies
• Define manufacturing processes for complex mechanical systems and pressure-boundary hardware
• Collaborate with Quality teams to establish inspection plans, NDE requirements, process controls, and acceptance criteria
• Support supplier and process qualification activities
• Investigate manufacturing issues and implement corrective actions during development and launch phases

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering, quality, procurement, and program teams throughout the product lifecycle
• Support supplier selection, technical reviews, and manufacturing capability assessments
• Collaborate with external manufacturing partners to establish and scale production capability
• Contribute to long-term manufacturing strategy as CSMC expands its advanced technology programs

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, space, automotive, defence, energy, or other complex manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience developing new manufacturing processes, production cells, assembly systems, or manufacturing lines for new products
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), production launches, or manufacturing scale-up initiatives
• Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, and manufacturing process development
• Experience designing or implementing tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and production documentation
• Strong knowledge of GD&T, engineering drawings, tolerancing, and inspection methodologies
• Experience collaborating with Supply Chain and suppliers to define raw material requirements, establish material specifications and traceability requirements, qualify manufacturing processes, and support new product introductions
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and solve complex manufacturing challenges with limited precedent
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience launching manufacturing operations for highly engineered, regulated, or safety-critical products
• Hands-on experience with welding processes, fabrication techniques, and non-destructive examination (NDE)
• Experience within aerospace, space systems, launch vehicles, automotive, defence, advanced energy, or similar industries
• Familiarity with ASME, AWS, CSA, aerospace, or other regulated manufacturing standards
• Experience supporting products from early-stage development through manufacturing qualification and production ramp-up
• Knowledge of pressure vessels, high-integrity mechanical systems, or critical infrastructure hardware
• Exposure to nuclear technologies, reactor systems, or advanced energy programs is considered an asset

Why Join CSMC?

• Help build manufacturing capability for technologies that do not yet have established production pathways
• Work on mission-critical energy, defence, and space systems with national significance
• Be part of a highly entrepreneurial and rapidly growing organization
• Collaborate with government, research institutions, and industry leaders advancing Canada's sovereign capabilities
• Shape products and manufacturing systems from concept through deployment
• Take ownership of meaningful technical challenges with real-world impact
  

Employment Eligibility  
CSMC works with highly sensitive nuclear, defence, and aerospace technologies, and all roles require eligibility for federal security screening and compliance with controlled goods and export regulations. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada, able to obtain and maintain Government of Canada security clearance, and eligible to meet foreign affiliation and export control requirements. These conditions are mandatory Bona Fide Occupational Requirements and reflect the need to securely develop and protect nationally significant capabilities.