Lead Manufacturing Engineer
Lead day-to-day manufacturing and machine shop operations while developing and optimizing processes for hardware prototypes and production at a hardware engineering company.
About the job
What You’ll Do
- Lead day-to-day manufacturing and machine shop operations, including scheduling, workflow management, equipment readiness, and production prioritization
- Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for prototypes, fixtures, production hardware, and internal tooling
- Program, set up, and operate CNC mills, CNC lathes, manual machines, and fabrication equipment to manufacture precision components
- Partner closely with engineering teams to evaluate manufacturability, tolerances, materials, assembly considerations, and production readiness
- Translate CAD models, engineering drawings, and GD&T requirements into robust and repeatable manufacturing processes
- Develop tooling, fixturing, workholding solutions, and process documentation to improve throughput, repeatability, and quality
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across cycle time reduction, process optimization, scrap reduction, uptime, and manufacturing scalability
- Establish manufacturing standards, shop procedures, quality controls, and operational best practices
- Support new product introduction (NPI) efforts from prototype through early production builds
- Inspect and validate finished components using calipers, micrometers, indicators, CMM tools, and other metrology equipment
- Troubleshoot machining issues, dimensional nonconformities, tooling wear, machine performance problems, and manufacturing bottlenecks
- Help design and build out future manufacturing facilities, shop layouts, workflows, and production infrastructure
- Manage tooling, consumables, raw materials, spare components, and manufacturing equipment readiness
- Coordinate with external vendors, fabrication houses, and manufacturing partners when overflow or specialized production support is required
- Support hiring, training, mentorship, and development of machinists, technicians, and future manufacturing team members
- Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and operationally disciplined manufacturing environment
What You’ll Need
- 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, machining, precision manufacturing, or hardware production environments
- Strong hands-on experience with CNC machining, including mills, lathes, setups, tooling, feeds, speeds, offsets, and process optimization
- Experience programming using CAM software and editing machine code at the controller
- Experience developing and improving manufacturing processes for prototypes and/or production hardware
- Strong understanding of machining principles, materials, tolerances, GD&T, and manufacturing methods
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical specifications
- Experience building and scaling manufacturing teams
- Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills across machining, tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing workflows
- Strong operational mindset with the ability to balance prototype urgency, production quality, and manufacturing scalability
- Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- High attention to detail, craftsmanship, and pride in building high-quality hardware systems
In addition to salary, we offer competitive equity as well as a full benefits package.
Skills
Cnc Machining, Cnc Mills, Cnc Lathes, Cam Programming, GD&T, Cad Modeling, Fixture Design, Manufacturing Process Development, Metrology, Root Cause Analysis
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