Director of Mechanical Engineering

Layup Parts; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401k Plan

Unlimited PTO

Company Holidays

Equity Grants

Job summary

Layup Parts is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to lead a high‑performing team focused on designing and building equipment for automation on the production floor. You will drive process improvements, mentor engineers, and partner with manufacturing and leadership to align efforts with company goals.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership in a fast-paced, hardware‑driven environment with opportunities for impact across aerospace, defense, robotics, and more.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as an engineer designing and building mechanical systems.
• Leadership experience with teams of engineers (3+ years).
• Strong background in equipment/machinery design and development from concept to production deployment.
• Ability to drive process improvements and partner with manufacturing and operations.

Responsibilities

• Build and scale a high-performing mechanical engineering team for equipment design and automation.
• Lead equipment design, set requirements, manage budget, milestones, testing, and final installation.
• Establish standards for design reviews, milestones, and documentation for quality execution.
• Set priorities and align engineering with production goals and company strategy.
• Manage budgets, balancing speed, cost, and scalability; mentor engineers at all levels.

Skills

10+ years experience

Leadership

Mechanical design

Team mentoring

Communication with execs

Job description

At Layup Parts,we'redeveloping the technology that will build the future.

We're a manufacturing technology company replacing months of lead time with days, using proprietary software, automation, and advanced manufacturing systems built for speed. Our customers are inventing what's next, in aerospace, defense, robotics, and beyond. To keep up with them, manufacturing has to change. That's what we're building.

We design, machine, print, and build faster than anyone else in the industry andwe’relooking for experienced Mechanical Engineers who thrive in high-performance environments and want to be part of the teamthat’sredefiningwhat’spossible in advanced manufacturing.This role will work on creating new equipment to support the automation of high-volume tasks on the production floor. Your goal is to increase the capability of each Composites Technician.

What You'll Work On

• Build, lead, and scale a high-performing team of mechanical engineers focused on equipment design to support process improvement and automation.
• Lead the design of equipmentincluding:setting equipment requirements, managing budget, executing to design milestones, completion of test and final installation
• Establish engineering standards, including design reviews, project milestones, and documentation practices to ensure efficient, high-quality execution.
• Set clear team priorities and performance expectations, aligning engineering efforts with company goals and production needs to ensure that all engineers have clear direction and tasks.
• Manage team and project budgets, taking into consideration speed,costand long-term scalability.
• Mentor and develop engineers at all levels, building a culture of ownership, continuous learning, and technical excellence

What We're Looking For

• Be awesome! Be the kind of person you want to work with!
• 10+ years of experience as an engineer designing and building cool thingswith 3+ years' experience in a leadership position.
• Strong background in equipment/machinery/system design and development, including taking ideas and requirements from concept through build, validation, and production deployment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements individually and amongst a team.
• Strong communicator and ability to partner with manufacturing,operationsand executive team members.
• Ability tooperateat both strategic and hands-on levels, from setting technical direction to diving into design reviews and problem-solving.
• Comfortable moving fast and being a part of a quickly changing environment.
• Be excited to motivate, mentor, and develop the mechanical engineering team.

Bonus Points

• Familiarity working in startups or small teams.

$190,000 - $240,000 a year

Final compensation is based on your experience, skills, and what you bring to the table.

Full Benefits Package:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, company-paid life insurance

Equity Option Grants

401k plan

Paid Time Off:

Unlimited PTO + 9 Company Holidays.

Equal Opportunity

Layup is an equal-opportunityemployer. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair ChanceInitiativefor Hiring Ordinance.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green cardholder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITARhere.