Head of Manufacturing

Powertown; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Powertown is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineer to take hardware from a successful prototype to repeatable, high-volume production. You will build the manufacturing function from the ground up, setting up equipment, fixtures, and processes for scalable, cost-efficient production.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years as an engineer in mechanical or electromechanical systems, strong CAD skills (AutoCAD, SolidWorks/CATIA), and experience with DF/M DFA, robotics, and automated test.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands‑on as a Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Design Engineer on mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• 2D CAD for line design (AutoCAD) and 3D CAD for equipment, fixturing, and tooling (SolidWorks or CATIA).
• Experience with conveyance, workstation design, robotic systems, adhesive dispensing, DC fastening tools, or automated functional test.
• GD&T and system stack‑up analysis.
• Experience writing technical specifications for automated manufacturing equipment.
• DFM and DFA experience, and comfort giving that input directly to a hardware design team.
• Comfort operating with almost no existing infrastructure. You're building the manufacturing function, not stepping into one.

Responsibilities

• Own the transition from prototype builds to scaled Powerblock production, standing up the manufacturing function from the ground up
• Develop equipment, fixtures, and processes for early-stage builds and design them to scale into high-volume production
• Determine and procure manufacturing equipment, working with integrators on semi-automated through fully automated systems as volume justifies it
• Manage suppliers through specification, design, buyoff, and installation of manufacturing equipment
• Provide DFM input back to the hardware team to improve yield and manufacturability as the Powerblock design matures
• Create manufacturing instructions and documentation to train the technicians who’ll build production units
• Set the cost, quality, and throughput targets that let us hit our per-unit hardware cost goals at scale

Skills

5+ years experience

2D CAD AutoCAD

3D CAD SolidWorks/CATIA

DFM/ DFA

GD&T

Technical specs

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

Overview

We need someone who has taken hardware from a successful first unit to repeatable, high-volume manufacturing, and who wants to build that function from scratch. You'll own everything between "the engineering team built one that works" and "we can build hundreds of these reliably, on schedule, at cost."

What You'll Do

• Own the transition from prototype builds to scaled Powerblock production, standing up the manufacturing function from the ground up

• Develop equipment, fixtures, and processes for early-stage builds and design them to scale into high-volume production

• Determine and procure manufacturing equipment, working with integrators on semi-automated through fully automated systems as volume justifies it

• Manage suppliers through specification, design, buyoff, and installation of manufacturing equipment

• Provide DFM input back to the hardware team to improve yield and manufacturability as the Powerblock design matures

• Create manufacturing instructions and documentation to train the technicians who’ll build production units

• Set the cost, quality, and throughput targets that let us hit our per-unit hardware cost goals at scale

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years hands‑on as a Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Design Engineer on mechanical or electromechanical systems, ideally with time spent taking a product from prototype to volume production

• 2D CAD for line design (AutoCAD) and 3D CAD for equipment, fixturing, and tooling (SolidWorks or CATIA)

• Experience with conveyance, workstation design, robotic systems, adhesive dispensing, DC fastening tools, or automated functional test

• GD&T and system stack‑up analysis

• Experience writing technical specifications for automated manufacturing equipment

• DFM and DFA experience, and comfort giving that input directly to a hardware design team

• Comfort operating with almost no existing infrastructure. You're building the manufacturing function, not stepping into one.

Nice to Have

• Background in battery, energy storage, or power electronics hardware

• Experience standing up a manufacturing line at an early‑stage hardware startup

• Familiarity with domestic content and manufacturing tax accounting