Staff Engineer

About the role

Cristek makes precision electrical connectors, cable assemblies, harnesses, and electro-mechanical products for demanding applications. We’re seeking a Staff Engineer to lead complex product and manufacturing engineering work from customer requirements through qualification and production.

As a senior individual contributor, you’ll partner with Engineering, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to deliver solutions that meet technical, quality, cost, schedule, and capacity requirements. You’ll also mentor engineers and help improve products and processes.

What you’ll do

• Lead product development and NPI from feasibility and design through prototype, qualification, launch, and production release.
• Assess customer requirements, drawings, and applicable aerospace and defense standards for technical fit, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Collaborate with Sales on quotes and customer discussions; communicate technical assumptions and risks.
• Design or review products, models, drawings, bills of material, specifications, tolerance analyses, and manufacturing documentation.
• Coordinate production readiness, including suppliers, materials, tooling, equipment, processes, testing, and training.
• Develop and improve manufacturing processes, tooling, fixtures, and test aids.
• Troubleshoot technical issues during builds and production; support failure analysis and MRB investigations.
• Document design decisions, qualifications, and changes; mentor engineers and technical teams.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree is a plus.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in product development, manufacturing engineering, or NPI in precision electro-mechanical manufacturing.
• Experience taking products from requirements or concept through qualification and production release.
• Knowledge of product design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, DFM/DFA, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), tolerance analysis, and failure analysis.
• CAD experience; SolidWorks preferred. Familiarity with aerospace and defense standards, document control, configuration management, and PLM or MRP systems.
• Strong problem-solving, project coordination, and communication skills, including the ability to influence across teams without direct authority.

Experience with connectors, cable or harness assemblies, or comparable aerospace and defense hardware is preferred. Knowledge of machining, molding, stamping or forming, plating, passivation, assembly, or testing is a plus.

Candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable regulations and be authorized to access ITAR-controlled information and hardware.