Chief Production Engineer

A lead defense contractor located in Simi Valley, CA is looking to hire a Chief Production Engineer. This person serves as the senior technical leader responsible for ensuring products transition efficiently from development into low‑rate and full‑rate production, and are sustained, supported, and continuously improved throughout their lifecycle. This role acts as the primary technical interface across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Customers, with a strong emphasis on execution, manufacturability, delivery, and cost control. This position is highly hands‑on, spending significant time on the production floor while providing technical leadership and direction to engineers and production technicians through dotted‑line authority, delegating execution to appropriate teams where required. This role is paying between ($176-$249k) depending on years of experience.

Position Responsibilities:
Act as the senior technical authority for production, manufacturing, and sustainment across active programs.
Lead NPI and LRIP, ensuring smooth transition from development to scalable, manufacturable production.
Provide hands‑on leadership on the production floor, resolving real‑time issues and sustaining flow.
Guide engineers and production technicians through dotted‑line leadership, delegating execution as needed.
Own configuration management, FRACAS, and failure investigations to maintain product integrity.
Partner with Programs, Customers, and Supply Chain to manage suppliers, delivery, cost, and quality

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to HR@insightglobal.com.To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

- 15+ years of engineering experience, with demonstrated success in a technical leadership role supporting engineers and production technicians.
- Extensive experience transitioning products from prototype/development into production, including LRIP and NPI.
- Proven experience working directly with customers in a customer‑facing role.
- Strong background in Configuration Management, failure investigation, and FRACAS execution.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and technically oversee suppliers and subcontractors.
- Hands‑on production experience, including working directly on the production floor with flowing units and sustainment programs.
- Experience addressing production issues, manufacturing variability, quality concerns, and parts obsolescence.
- Willingness to travel 1–2 times per month to the East Coast.

Software validation experience
UAV/Drone/previous Aerospace experience

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.