Senior NPI Engineer

Voltera; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Three weeks' vacation to start

Paid end-of-year company shutdown

Flexible work hours

Family-friendly work culture

Job summary

Voltera, based in Waterloo, Ontario, seeks a Mechanical/Production Engineer to bridge input between in-house Engineering and Production. You will coordinate with offshore manufacturers, implement DFM/DFA guidelines, and validate testing/calibration processes for both local and overseas lines.

The role requires extensive travel, especially to Shenzhen, and to align cross-functional teams to meet the April product launch. Strong Mandarin-English skills and 5+ years of experience are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Mechanical and Production/Manufacturing Engineering.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• Fluent in Mandarin and English to negotiate with Shenzhen partners.
• Experience with offshore contract manufacturers and overseas supply chains.
• Deep understanding of DFM and DFA, ability to read tolerances and specs.
• Strong project management and communication to align cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical liaison between Voltera's local Engineering and Production teams for NPI handoffs.
• Partner with offshore contract manufacturers (CMs) and suppliers in Shenzhen to ensure design intent and quality.
• Review and implement DFX guidelines (DFM, DFA, DFT, DFR, DFS) for new and existing designs.
• Develop, coordinate, and validate subassembly testing and calibration procedures for local and offshore lines.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing bottlenecks leading up to the April product launch.
• Lead root-cause analysis for production defects and implement corrective actions with local and overseas teams.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Mandarin

English

Vendor management

Offshore manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics

Tools

OnShape

Job description

About Voltera

Voltera is a rapidly scaling and profitable Canadian tech company that has been driving change in the additive electronics industry since 2013. Our customers span 92 countries and use our products to improve quality of life and push the boundaries of what electronics can do. From developing electronics skin to exploring space, our products support some of the world’s most exciting engineering endeavors.

Our first product, the V-One PCB printer, integrates drilling through-holes, printing conductive materials, dispensing solder paste, and reflowing circuits to enable fast iteration of circuit board designs. Our second product, the NOVA materials dispensing system, offers precision dispensing of functional materials on both flexible and rigid substrates for flexible hybrid electronics prototyping and materials research.

As we continue to tackle new challenges, we are looking for ambitious, talented individuals to join the adventure. We are a tight-knit, mission-driven team. You will be supported by people who care, challenged to grow, and trusted to make a real impact.

About the Job

• Act as the primary technical liaison between Voltera's local Engineering and Production teams to ensure smooth and effective New Product Introduction (NPI) handoffs.
• Partner closely with offshore contract manufacturers (CMs) and suppliers in Shenzhen, China, to ensure the final manufactured product strictly matches our design intent, accuracy, and quality standards.
• Review, provide feedback on, and implement Design for Excellence (DFX) guidelines—specifically across DFM, DFA, Design for Test (DFT), Design for Reliability/Repairability (DFR), and Design for Service/Supply (DFS)—for new and existing designs.
• Develop, coordinate, and validate subassembly testing and calibration procedures for both local and offshore production lines.
• Proactively identify and resolve manufacturing, assembly, and testing bottlenecks leading up to our critical product launch in April.
• Lead root-cause analysis for any production defects or discrepancies, implementing corrective actions with both local teams and overseas partners.

Working conditions

• Travel-Heavy Setup Phase: This role requires international travel for the first 8 months to support our upcoming product launch. Expect regular travel to Shenzhen, China for 1-2 week durations.
• Local Collaboration: When not traveling, the role requires a strong local presence to bridge the gap between our in-house Engineering and Production teams.
• Flexible Hours: Due to the time zone difference between local operations and Shenzhen, occasional evening or early morning availability will be necessary to communicate with overseas partners.

About You

• 5+ years of proven professional experience in Mechanical and Production/Manufacturing Engineering.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent background in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Fluent in speaking Mandarin and English to effectively negotiate, troubleshoot, and build relationships with our partners in Shenzhen.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with offshore contract manufacturers and overseas supply chains.
• Deep understanding of DFM and DFA principles, with the ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, tolerances, and specifications.
• Strong project management and communication skills, with the ability to align cross-functional teams (Engineering, Production, Supply Chain).

Nice to haves

• Experience with OnShape (3D CAD).
• Background or hands‑on experience in Electrical Engineering, Quality Assurance, or Software Engineering (specifically related to test automation/scripting).
• Experience designing and building physical test fixtures or calibration rigs for hardware products.
• Familiarity with scaling production for mid-volume hardware or robotics products.

Why We’re Awesome

• We’re a scaling company - you’re hired to have a voice, not to be a cog.
• Three weeks' vacation to start, plus a paid end-of-year company shutdown.
• Flexible work hours.
• Family-friendly work culture.
• Collaborative work environment.
• Located in the growing tech hub of Waterloo, Ontario, close to restaurants and easily accessible by public transit.

Compensation

The expected base salary range for this role is CAD $90,000–$110,000. Final compensation will be based on job-related skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects base pay only and does not include bonus eligibility or benefits.

Posting and application details

This posting is for an existing vacancy. Applications are reviewed by a member of our team; we do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select candidates. Selected applicants will be contacted regarding next steps.

Voltera is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to inclusion and diversity. Voltera does not discriminate based on race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offenses, marital status, family status, disability, or any other basis forbidden under federal, provincial, or local law.

Accommodations are available upon request for candidates participating in all aspects of the recruitment process. If you require accommodation or require recruitment documents in a different format, please contact us at [e-mail].