Principal Industrial Engineer

About the role

About Mach Industries Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition. Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security. The Role Mach Industries is seeking a Principal Industrial Engineer to lead the design and optimization of manufacturing systems across Mach’s facilities, with specialized focus on our Huntington Beach, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Victorville operations. This role will serve as Mach’s technical authority for industrial engineering, factory planning, material flow, logistics, and production system design across manufacturing sites. The Principal Industrial Engineer will develop scalable factory systems and establish company-wide industrial engineering standards while partnering closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Automation, Supply Chain, Facilities, Quality, and EHS. Key Responsibilities - Serve as Mach’s technical authority for industrial engineering, factory planning, material flow, logistics, and production system design - Lead industrial engineering and factory planning across Mach manufacturing facilities, with primary focus on Huntington Beach, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Victorville - Own site-level and cross-site factory layout strategy, including production areas, equipment placement, material storage, logistics routes, warehousing, and support functions - Develop factory master plans that translate product demand and production forecasts into space, equipment, labor, infrastructure, and material-flow requirements - Own end-to-end material flow from receiving and warehousing through point-of-use delivery, production, inspection, finished goods, and shipping - Design internal logistics systems including supermarkets, line-side inventory, kitting, tugger routes, forklifts, AMRs/AGVs, and other material handling systems - Develop PFEP (Plan for Every Part) and standardized material presentation, storage, replenishment, and movement strategies - Lead capacity modeling across equipment, labor, space, material flow, utilities, and production constraints - Develop production ramp scenarios to determine facility, equipment, labor, and infrastructure requirements at different production rates - Lead production line balancing, takt-time development, cycle-time analysis, bottleneck identification, and throughput optimization - Develop labor models, staffing requirements, operator utilization, and direct/indirect labor planning - Define WIP, buffer, supermarket, and inventory strategies to support reliable production flow - Lead workstation and production cell design with consideration for ergonomics, safety, operator efficiency, material presentation, maintainability, and automation - Develop block layouts and detailed production layouts for new facilities, facility expansions, and brownfield manufacturing programs - Perform space utilization and density analysis to maximize effective use of manufacturing facilities - Develop analytical and simulation models for production flow, queues, WIP, equipment utilization, material movement, and logistics capacity - Partner with Automation Engineering to develop strategies for automated production and material movement, including AMRs, AGVs, conveyors, and automated storage systems - Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure individual production processes and equipment integrate into optimized factory-level production systems - Partner with Supply Chain and Production Control to develop inventory, warehousing, kitting, replenishment, and production-control strategies - Partner with Facilities and EHS to incorporate infrastructure, life safety, hazardous operations, utilities, and facility constraints into factory planning - Establish company-wide industrial engineering standards for capacity, cycle time, utilization, OEE, labor planning, material flow, space utilization, and factory design - Develop and maintain factory-level KPIs for throughput, productivity, utilization, WIP, labor efficiency, material travel, and space utilization - Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing, constraint management, standard work, and waste reduction - Serve as a technical leader for major facility expansions, greenfield developments, and manufacturing capital programs - Mentor industrial engineers and manufacturing engineers and establish industrial engineering best practices across Mach Required Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Research, or a related technical discipline - 8+ years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, factory planning, or production systems - Demonstrated experience designing, launching, or scaling complex manufacturing facilities - Strong experience with factory layout, material flow, internal logistics, capacity planning, line balancing, and production optimization - Experience developing labor, equipment, space, and throughput models for manufacturing systems - Experience translating production forecasts into factory-level capacity and infrastructure requirements - Experience leading cross-functional manufacturing projects across multiple organizations or facilities - Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, takt time, cycle time, WIP, standard work, bottleneck analysis, and production system design Preferred Qualifications - Experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, high-volume manufacturing, or other complex manufacturing environments - Experience developing multi-site manufacturing strategies and factory master plans - Experience with both greenfield facility development and brownfield facility expansion - Experience scaling production from prototype and low-rate production through high-rate manufacturing - Experience with discrete-event simulation or factory modeling tools such as FlexSim, AnyLogic, Siemens Plant Simulation, or equivalent - Experience with CAD-based factory layout and space-planning tools - Experience implementing AMRs, AGVs, conveyors, automated storage, or other automated material handling systems - Experience with MES, ERP, WMS, and production planning systems - Experience developing PFEP, supermarket, kitting, and point-of-use material strategies - Experience supporting major manufacturing capital programs and facility expansions Additional Requirements - Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here . Principal Engineer $180,000 — $220,000 USD At Mach, we believe that compensation is more than just a paycheck. It's a comprehensive package designed to reward the time, skills, and expertise you bring to our team. We are committed to offering competitive compensation that is equitable, transparent, and aligned with market trends. Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy: - Competitive Salaries : We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location. - Performance-Based Incentives : Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win-win scenario that motivates our team members to excel. - Equity Participation : We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company. - Benefit Packages : Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well-being extends beyond the office. - Professional Development : We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth. - Transparency : We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect. By joining Mach, you’re not just accepting a job—you’re becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success. Data Privacy To view Mach Industries candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://machindustries.com/privacy-policy . Disclosures This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license. Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!