Description
*Statement to Applicants: This position is unable to accommodate sponsorship*
Central UAS Technologies, a vertical of Central Life Sciences, is dedicated to the creation of uncrewed aerial systems which have a direct positive impact on public health, quality of life and innovative technologies for the agricultural industry. Your meaningful work will help reduce the spread of vector-borne disease, as well as limit the amount of chemicals or emissions released into the environment (through rural and urban municipalities, agricultural applications, horticultural applications, and more!). You’ll accomplish this work from our assembly shop in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Our parent company is Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT and CENTA); we offer an amazing educational assistance program in addition to great medical, dental, vision, which you will be eligible the first of the month following 30 days, plus free life and free disability insurance. Our 401k has a 3% match, and you are eligible day one. We also offer pet insurance and other voluntary benefits. Please see our website at www.central.com for additional company information.
This Manufacturing Engineer role emphasizes industrialization and process ownership for UAS production lines. The focus is on taking critical design inputs from R&D and converting them into fully realized, documented, and continuously improving production systems. The engineer ensures that line layouts, process flows, and station definitions support safe, repeatable, and scalable builds.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Design-to-Production Translation
- Partner with design teams to understand functional requirements, tolerances, and design risks then defines the necessary production processes to meet those requirements
- Identify critical characteristics that must be controlled on the line and ensure that appropriate inspection and verification steps are built into the process
- Drafting support for R&D to finalize production-ready drawings and documentation packages
Line Layout and Tooling Ownership
- Responsible for designing station layouts, material presentation, and tooling strategies that support lean, efficient operations. This includes specifying fixtures, alignment tools, and test jigs, as well as ensuring that station environments support the required ESD, cleanliness, and safety standards.
- Work with facilities and production leadership to implement physical changes to the line.
Process Control and Documentation
- Maintain production process documentation, including process flow diagrams, station descriptions, and work cell configuration records
- Ensure that updates to processes are synchronized with SOPs, work instructions, and controlled documents managed by quality and engineering.
- Document process changes in a manner that enables traceability and auditability over time.
Continuous Improvement and Throughput Scaling
- Lead efforts to scale throughput without compromising quality
- Analyze station loads, identify constraints, and plan capacity increases via additional tooling, line duplication, or process redesign
Support to Production Leadership
- Closely support the Head of Manufacturing & Production by providing process insights and recommendations on staffing, training focus, and capital improvements.
- Participate in escalation reviews when chronic line issues occur and provide structured proposals to reduce risk and improve reliability.
- Play a key role in evaluating manufacturability when new products or major design changes are proposed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience translating R&D designs into production-ready processes
- Strong understanding of manufacturing flow, line layout, tooling, and station design
- Ability to read and work from schematics, engineering drawings, BoMs, and controlled documentation
- Experience supporting production lines, process development, or prototype-to-production transition
- Familiarity with inspection methods, test fixtures, and production verification processes
- Hands-on experience supporting assembly, tooling, or process validation in a manufacturing environment
- Strong collaboration skills with Manufacturing, R&D, Quality, and Flight Operations teams
- CAD and solid-modeling experience preferred
- UAS, aerospace, or aircraft-related experience preferred
- Familiarity with ArduPilot or ground control software preferred
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
- BS/BA in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, UAS, or a related field
- 2+ years of professional experience in manufacturing engineering, industrialization, or production support
- Experience supporting production lines, process improvement, or design transfer to manufacturing
- Ability to work from and maintain controlled documentation, including process flows and work instructions
- Experience with process validation, line balancing, or throughput improvement initiatives
- Strong problem-solving and cross-functional communication skills
- Valid driver’s license required
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Based in a UAS assembly and production environment in Daytona Beach, Florida
- Frequent use of computers, shop equipment, hand tools, and production support tooling
- Work may involve standing, sitting, walking, climbing, and movement across production areas
- Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs on a frequent basis
- Occasional travel may be required for production support, supplier coordination, or field-related manufacturing activities
POSITION INFORMATION
- This position pays $24 - $27 per hour depending on experience
BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Free Life and Disability Insurance
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contribution
- Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
- Employee Assistance Program
- Access to thousands of free online courses
- Discounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more!
- Education Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)
- Referral Program with cash bonus
- Access to on-demand pay
- Paid parental leave
Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries. Guided by the belief that home is central to life, the Company's purpose is to proudly nurture happy and healthy homes. For over 45 years, its innovative and trusted solutions have helped lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a diversified portfolio of market-leading brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Best Bully Sticks®, Cadet®, C&S®, Farnam®, Ferry-Morse®, Kaytee®, Nylabone®, Pennington®, Sevin® and Zoёcon®. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central has strong manufacturing and logistics capabilities supported by a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. The Company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and employs over 6,000 people, primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.