Lead Manufacturing Engineer

Alumni Founders; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Full benefits package

Remote-friendly team

Job summary

Zoo is hiring a Lead Manufacturing Engineer in Los Angeles to lead the development and operation of our manufacturing systems, machine shop, and hardware production workflows. You will bridge advanced digital engineering with real-world manufacturing execution and drive scalable capabilities.

The role requires 8+ years in manufacturing engineering or hardware production, strong CNC and CAM skills, GD&T proficiency, and a track record of leading manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in manufacturing engineering, machining, or hardware production environments.
• Strong hands-on CNC machining experience with mills, lathes, tooling, feeds, speeds, and optimization.
• Experience programming using CAM software and editing machine code at the controller.
• Experience developing and improving manufacturing processes for prototypes or production hardware.
• Strong understanding of machining principles, materials, tolerances, GD&T, and manufacturing methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing and machine shop operations, including scheduling, workflow management, equipment readiness, and production prioritization.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for prototypes, fixtures, production hardware, and internal tooling.
• Program, set up, and operate CNC mills, CNC lathes, manual machines, and fabrication equipment to manufacture precision components.
• Partner with engineering teams to evaluate manufacturability, tolerances, materials, assembly considerations, and production readiness.
• Translate CAD models and GD&T requirements into robust, repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Develop tooling, fixturing, workholding solutions, and process documentation to improve throughput and quality.
• Drive continuous improvement across cycle time reduction, scrap reduction, uptime, and scalability.
• Establish manufacturing standards, shop procedures, quality controls, and operational best practices.
• Support new product introduction from prototype through early production builds.
• Inspect and validate finished components using metrology tools; troubleshoot issues and bottlenecks.
• Help design and build future manufacturing facilities, shop layouts, workflows, and production infrastructure.
• Coordinate with external vendors when overflow or specialized production support is required.
• Support hiring, training, mentorship, and development of machinists and technicians.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized manufacturing environment.

Skills

CNC machining

CAM programming

GD&T proficiency

Engineering drawings interpretation

Leadership of manufacturing teams

Process optimization

Problem solving / root cause

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

CMM

Job description

Departments: Engineering

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

About Us

Zoo is building the next generation of hardware design tools redefining how hardware products are designed, developed, and built. Our platform combines a modern, cloud-native CAD environment with AI-powered engineering workflows, helping teams design, iterate, and manufacture products faster than ever before. We are headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with both a local and remote team. We were founded and incubated by Embedded Ventures in 2021.

About You

We’re looking for curious, innovative, and ambitious self-starters to join our growing team to help us bring our mission to life. We think you’ll thrive on our team if you’re:

• Curious at your core, with an eagerness to learn and do things differently
• Customer-focused, always thinking about ways to improve the user experience
• Able to operate autonomously and work asynchronously, while also being an effective team player

About The Role

As a Lead Manufacturing Engineer at Zoo, you will lead the development and operation of our manufacturing systems, machine shop, and hardware production workflows that power the future of engineering design. You will serve as a technical leader across machining, fabrication, process development, tooling, prototyping, and production operations, helping bridge advanced digital engineering with real-world manufacturing execution.

This is a highly hands-on role for someone who thrives at the intersection of manufacturing engineering, machining, process optimization, and operational leadership. You will work across CNC machining, fixture design, manufacturing process development, production scaling, and shop operations while helping establish the systems, standards, and workflows that enable rapid hardware innovation. You will play a critical role in building scalable manufacturing capabilities, improving production efficiency, and helping shape the future of Zoo’s hardware development and manufacturing infrastructure.

What You’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing and machine shop operations, including scheduling, workflow management, equipment readiness, and production prioritization
• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for prototypes, fixtures, production hardware, and internal tooling
• Program, set up, and operate CNC mills, CNC lathes, manual machines, and fabrication equipment to manufacture precision components
• Partner closely with engineering teams to evaluate manufacturability, tolerances, materials, assembly considerations, and production readiness
• Translate CAD models, engineering drawings, and GD&T requirements into robust and repeatable manufacturing processes
• Develop tooling, fixturing, workholding solutions, and process documentation to improve throughput, repeatability, and quality
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across cycle time reduction, process optimization, scrap reduction, uptime, and manufacturing scalability
• Establish manufacturing standards, shop procedures, quality controls, and operational best practices
• Support new product introduction (NPI) efforts from prototype through early production builds
• Inspect and validate finished components using calipers, micrometers, indicators, CMM tools, and other metrology equipment
• Troubleshoot machining issues, dimensional nonconformities, tooling wear, machine performance problems, and manufacturing bottlenecks
• Help design and build out future manufacturing facilities, shop layouts, workflows, and production infrastructure
• Manage tooling, consumables, raw materials, spare components, and manufacturing equipment readinessCoordinate with external vendors, fabrication houses, and manufacturing partners when overflow or specialized production support is required
• Support hiring, training, mentorship, and development of machinists, technicians, and future manufacturing team members
• Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and operationally disciplined manufacturing environment

What You’ll Need

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, machining, precision manufacturing, or hardware production environments
• Strong hands-on experience with CNC machining, including mills, lathes, setups, tooling, feeds, speeds, offsets, and process optimization
• Experience programming using CAM software and editing machine code at the controller
• Experience developing and improving manufacturing processes for prototypes and/or production hardware
• Strong understanding of machining principles, materials, tolerances, GD&T, and manufacturing methods
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical specifications
• Experience building and scaling manufacturing teams
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills across machining, tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing workflows
• Strong operational mindset with the ability to balance prototype urgency, production quality, and manufacturing scalability
• Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• High attention to detail, craftsmanship, and pride in building high-quality hardware systems

The salary range for this role is provided below. The final offer will depend on multiple factors including candidate experience, skills, expertise, and market data. Compensation may vary by geography. In addition to salary, we offer competitive equity as well as a full benefits package which may vary by geography as well.

Salary Range

$145,000—$195,000 USD

Zoo is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Zoo team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals from across the globe. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, Veteran status, age, or any other trait that unfairly targets a group of people. We encourage everyone interested in our mission to apply!