Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Machining

Karman Industries

Karman Industries is a Torrance-based thermal technology company building the backbone for giga-scale AI infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and GE, Karman is moving beyond legacy cooling with the launch of the HPU (Heat Processing Unit)—a new category of thermal architecture designed for the 100kW+ rack era.

The HPU shrinks the exterior mechanical yard by up to 80% while reducing peak energy consumption by 10%+. Unlike traditional systems, the Karman HPU provides zero-water (WUE 0) cooling that ensures high-TDP GPUs and HBM4 memory stay at optimal thermal setpoints without throttling.

Founded in 2024, we’re a fast-growing team of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of humanity. We design, build, and test real hardware, and we lead with ownership: you’ll own your work from concept to hardware and help shape how we scale. Our values are Ownership, Performance Excellence, Radical Transparency, and Customer-Centricity.

Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Machining

We are seeking a Machining Engineer to help build out and scale our in-house CNC machining capability as we bring precision-machined components — rotor hardware, casings, and structural parts for our supercritical CO₂ turbomachinery — from prototype into repeatable production. We are a team that values first-principles thinking, hands-on problem solving, and close cross-functional collaboration to deliver cohesive, high-performance systems.

Responsibilities:

• Own the strategy and execution of machine shop development, establishing best-in-class machining processes, equipment standards, workforce requirements, and production systems to create a scalable, high-performance manufacturing operation

• Own DFM (design for manufacturability) feedback loops with design engineering — flag GD&T, datum structure, and tolerance issues before they become production problems

• Help troubleshoot/drive programs, set up, and CNC processes (mills, lathes, multi-axis) for low-volume, high-mix production

• Create process plans, standard operating procedures, inspection plans, and work-holding designs for precision-machined components

• Investigate non-conforming hardware, drive root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions

• Help select and qualify new machine tools, tooling, and metrology equipment as the shop scales

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent hands-on experience

• 5+ years in machining or manufacturing engineering, ideally with rotating equipment, aerospace, or high-precision hardware

• Working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack-up analysis

• Comfort reading complex engineering drawings with limited upfront documentation

Preferred Qualifications:

• CAD/CAM proficiency (Siemens NX, Mastercam, or similar)

• Experience with fixture design and metrology/dimensional inspection

• Experience with impeller manufacturing and large Vertical Turning Lathe (VTL) machining operations, including process development, tooling, fixturing, and inspection of large, high-precision components

• Background in cryogenic or high-pressure hardware

• Lean/continuous improvement experience in a startup or scale-up environment

Role level to be determined during interview process

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Direct applicants only — we are not working with outside recruiters or agencies for this role.

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