Manufacturing Research Engineer

Meta; Redmond; On-site; AUD 248,000 - 351,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Meta is seeking a Manufacturing Research Engineer for Reality Labs Research to develop scalable manufacturing processes for state-of-the-art hardware prototypes, spanning research-stage components to pilot production. You will lead cross-functional teams, optimize manufacturability, and define the maturation path for complex prototypes, while expanding in-house capabilities and managing external partners.

Preferred candidates hold a Master’s in a relevant field and have 8+ years’ experience in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, other relevant field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience scaling hardware technologies from early-stage feasibility to pilot-production or mass manufacture.
• Experience developing high-volume consumer products with stringent constraints in wearables, robotics, or similar.
• Experience designing and implementing process development plans, DOE, critical process parameters, and quality control strategies.
• Experience defining hardware build and supply chain plans, and managing external manufacturing vendors to meet program schedule and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing development activities across cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, high-performing hardware prototypes.
• Provide design-for-manufacturability, assembly, and test feedback to research scientists and engineers to improve the manufacturing feasibility of novel technologies.
• Set manufacturing technical direction across multiple concurrent research programs, defining and executing the process maturation path that scales state-of-the-art components and prototypes from early feasibility to pilot-production volumes.
• Grow in-house manufacturing capabilities and manage external manufacturing partnerships.
• Raise the bar for manufacturing excellence and best practices by developing, and continuously improving, processes and relationships which empower researchers and design engineers to build increasingly complex systems.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Design of experiments

AI tool integration

Process development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Process/Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

NX CAD

Job description

As a Manufacturing Engineer in Reality Labs Research, you will develop novel manufacturing processes — spanning research-stage components and materials through complex, fully integrated devices — and advance them from early feasibility and proof-of-concept through process qualification and pilot production, delivering reliable, high-performing hardware prototypes. The development of state-of-the-art prototypes will require the intersection of novel materials, manufacturing processes, mechanical, electrical, and software fields. You will bring experience with a wide variety of manufacturing processes and demonstrated experience of leading cross-functional engineering efforts to rapidly develop and scale technologies from low to high volumes. More broadly, you will work with a diverse and highly interdisciplinary team of researchers and engineers and will have access to cutting edge technology, resources, and testing facilities.

Manufacturing Research Engineer Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing development activities across cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, high-performing hardware prototypes
• Provide design-for-manufacturability, assembly, and test feedback to research scientists and engineers to improve the manufacturing feasibility of novel technologies
• Set manufacturing technical direction across multiple concurrent research programs, defining and executing the process maturation path that scales state-of-the-art components and prototypes from early feasibility to pilot-production volumes
• Grow in-house manufacturing capabilities and manage external manufacturing partnerships
• Raise the bar for manufacturing excellence and best practices by developing, and continuously improving, processes and relationships which empower researchers and design engineers to build increasingly complex systems

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, other relevant field, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience scaling hardware technologies from early-stage feasibility to pilot-production or mass manufacture
• Experience developing high-volume consumer products with stringent size, weight, power, and cost constraints in wearables, robotics, or similar
• Experience designing and implementing process development plans, design of experiments (DOE), critical process parameters, and quality control strategies
• Experience defining hardware build and supply chain plans, and managing external manufacturing vendors to meet program schedule and quality requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with any combination of manufacturing techniques, such as electro-mechanical integration, coatings, laminating, active optical alignment, molding, machining, additive manufacturing, and adhesive bonding
• Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
• Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other relevant field
• Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
• Experience establishing in-house prototyping or pilot-line capability, including equipment selection, installation, process qualification, and capacity planning
• Experience developing processes for novel or unproven materials, including material characterization and process-window definition
• Experience with CAD, such as NX or related programs
• Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)

About Meta

Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.

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Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [e-mail].

$173,000/year to $245,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.