Manufacturing Process Engineering Manager - Hardware Assembly

Halter; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal growth fund

Job summary

Halter in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking a player-coach Production Process Lead to grow our team of engineers while staying hands‑on with tough technical calls in high‑volume discrete manufacturing of hardware assemblies.

You’ll partner with contract manufacturers and internal teams to land changes quickly, improve yield and process capability, and coach engineers to use data and first principles in decision making.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team of engineers in a high‑volume discrete manufacturing environment.
• Hands‑on process engineering depth: taken processes from validation to stable production.
• Experience working with a contract manufacturer or across multiple sites.
• Coaching style that sets clear standards and helps engineers grow.
• Ability to travel around 25% of the time, including trips to Thailand.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the Production Process team through hiring, coaching, feedback and career development
• Turn Manufacturing strategy into clear quarterly priorities, with clear ownership across the team
• Improve yield, quality, throughput and process capability across our lines
• Set standards for process validation, control plans, work instructions, training and reaction plans
• Partner with our contract manufacturer and internal teams so changes land on the line quickly and safely
• Coach engineers to reason from first principles and bring data‑backed recommendations

Skills

Team leadership

Process engineering

Coaching

Data-driven

Travel 25%

Tools

pFMEA

Control plans

IQ/OQ/PQ validation

SPC

Job description

About Halter

At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard.

We’re backed to deliver on a mission that matters by Tier 1 investors including Founders Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, BOND, DCVC, Blackbird, Promus Ventures, Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck and Icehouse ventures.

To find out more, visit our LinkedIn & Instagram.

The role

This is a player-coach role. You'll lead and grow a team of process engineers while staying hands‑on with the toughest technical calls. The focus is discrete hardware assembly at volume, which is different from running plant operations or continuous chemical processes.

What you’ll do

• Lead and grow the Production Process team through hiring, coaching, feedback and career development

• Turn Manufacturing strategy into clear quarterly priorities, with clear ownership across the team

• Improve yield, quality, throughput and process capability across our lines

• Set standards for process validation, control plans, work instructions, training and reaction plans

• Partner with our contract manufacturer and internal teams so changes land on the line quickly and safely

• Coach engineers to reason from first principles and bring data‑backed recommendations

The technical environment

• Processes: electronics and mechanical assembly, including adhesive bonding, ultrasonic welding, sealing and leak testing

• Tools: pFMEA, control plans, IQ/OQ/PQ validation, SPC and live production test data

• Change control: a structured engineering change process from kickoff to production cut‑in

• Scale: a fast‑growing product line, built with a contract manufacturer in Asia

What you’ll bring

• Experience leading a team of engineers in a high‑volume discrete manufacturing environment

• Hands‑on process engineering depth: you've taken processes from validation through to stable production yourself

• Experience working with a contract manufacturer or across multiple sites

• A coaching style that sets clear standards and helps engineers grow

• Ability to travel around 25% of the time, including trips to Thailand

Nice to have

• Electronics assembly experience, such as SMT/PCBA or rugged sealed devices

• New product introduction and production ramp experience

• Six Sigma or strong statistical process control skills

• Experience in a fast‑growing or scale‑up company

Join our team

Halter is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace — a place where we can each be ourselves and do the best work of our lives. Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and under‑represented groups of candidates tend to only apply when they meet every requirement.

Why our team loves working at Halter:

• Work that genuinely matters. Every now and again a company comes along that transforms an entire industry and leaves the world in a better place. Our team gets to be part of something truly meaningful, helping farmers improve their livelihoods, spend more time with their families, and build more sustainable operations.

• Spectacular people solving hard problems. Our culture is designed for talented people to do work that changes lives. The team is filled with diverse, kind, and driven people who push each other to do their best work. You'll be thrown into the deep end, tackling complex challenges and building something tangible that solves real problems.

• You’ll grow here. Autonomy, mastery, and learning define how we work. You'll have the freedom to work on interesting problems, master new skills, and continuously develop yourself, both through your role and our $1,000 personal growth fund.

• This isn't easy, and we love that it's hard. Working at Halter will be the most rewarding and the most challenging work of your life. We move fast, take bold bets, and work hard to reshape an entire industry. As one team member put it: "Joining Halter is a bit like strapping yourself to a rocket ship, but it's an epic journey to be a part of!"