Automotive Technical Director

Machina Labs, Inc.; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Stock option participation

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Machina Labs, Inc. is seeking an experienced Automotive Technical Director to lead our automotive sector efforts. This role will bridge advanced robotics with automotive manufacturing, focusing on innovative product development and customer relationships.

The ideal candidate will possess over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, particularly with OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers. A competitive salary between $180,000 to $230,000 is offered alongside comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience within the automotive industry at an OEM and/or Tier 1 supplier.
• Deep hands-on experience with BIW, stamping and forming, welding, and paint systems.
• Demonstrated success transitioning manufacturing programs from pilot to LRIP and full rate production.

Responsibilities

• Lead the evolution of Machina Labs’ automotive solutions from early production programs to scaled deployment.
• Act as the senior customer-facing technical authority for OEM and Tier 1 engagements.
• Mentor internal teams on automotive expectations, structured decision-making, and production discipline.

Skills

Experience in automotive industry

Manufacturing program transition

Knowledge of automotive quality systems

Credibility in automotive ecosystem

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering

Job description

About Machina Labs

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn't. Yet.

Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years.

Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we're building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on.

If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place.

Job Description

Machina Labs is seeking an Automotive Technical Director to serve as our senior technical leader for the automotive sector, translating deep automotive OEM and Tier 1 manufacturing expertise into a new, first‑of‑a‑kind customization offering by Machina Labs. This role bridges advanced robotics with automotive manufacturing rigor, ensuring our technology meets industry standards for quality, manufacturability, and throughput. You will act as the technical face of Machina Labs with automotive customers while partnering internally with Engineering and Operations to embed automotive workflows and processes into our factories. This is a strategic and hands‑on role focused on shaping our automotive offering, supporting customer engagements, and driving the evolution from early concepts to repeatable and scalable production.

Key Responsibilities

Define and Scale Machina’s Automotive Offering

• Lead the evolution of Machina Labs’ automotive solutions from early production programs to scaled, repeatable deployment.
• Apply deep expertise in BIW, stamping and forming, welding, painting, and final assembly to ensure manufacturability, quality, and production readiness.
• Establish and institutionalize production readiness frameworks that meet OEM and Tier 1 standards.

Serve as the Technical Leader for Automotive Customers

• Act as the senior customer‑facing technical authority for OEM and Tier 1 engagements.
• Support RFQs, technical reviews, manufacturing assessments, and executive‑level discussions.
• Build long‑term customer trust through technical credibility, clarity of communication, and disciplined execution.

Shape Industry Engagement and Product Direction

• Represent Machina Labs in strategic automotive engagements, conferences, and industry forums.
• Translate external automotive trends and customer feedback into actionable input for product development, process maturity, and roadmap priorities.

Build and Embed the Automotive Playbook

• Partner cross‑functionally with Engineering, Operations, and Factory Deployment teams to integrate automotive‑grade standards into scalable systems.
• Mentor internal teams on automotive expectations, structured decision‑making, and production discipline.

Required Background & Experience

• 15+ years of experience within the automotive industry at an OEM and/or Tier 1 supplier.
• Deep hands‑on experience with BIW, stamping and forming, welding, and paint systems.
• Demonstrated success transitioning manufacturing programs from pilot to LRIP and full rate production.
• Strong working knowledge of automotive quality systems and production standards.
• Ability to operate effectively at both plant‑floor and executive strategy levels.
• Established credibility and reputation within the automotive ecosystem.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related STEM field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in startup or high‑growth environments.
• Experience introducing innovative or non‑traditional manufacturing technologies.
• Background in advanced manufacturing, robotics, or automation systems.

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs.

$180,000 - $230,000 a year

The base salary range for this role is $180,000 – $230,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and overall alignment with the scope of the position.

In addition to base compensation, Machina Labs offers competitive benefits and stock option participation.

Relocation assistance is available for candidates who are not currently local to the Los Angeles area.

Machina Labs is an affirmative action and equal employment opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law.

We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at [phone]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.