Manufacturing Engineering Line Lead

Heron Power Inc.; Scotts Valley, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary and equity

Benefits

Job summary

Heron Power is building the future of scalable power electronics. We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Line Lead to launch and scale production lines, guiding equipment design, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and ramp.

The role suits engineers who thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments, lead by example, and own technical challenges. You will collaborate across design, controls, quality, and operations to deliver world-class manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or industrial engineering or similar.
• 5+ years of full-time industry experience in high-volume manufacturing.
• Track record launching mass production lines from concept through ramp.
• Established relationships with equipment suppliers and system integrators.
• Experience with framing, fastening, welding, dispensing/sealing, material handling, and inspection systems.
• GD&T literacy and tolerance stack-up analyses.
• Excellent communication and ability to distill complex issues into actionable plans.
• Willingness to work hands-on and lead by example.

Responsibilities

• Lead the specification, design, fabrication, testing, and installation of high-volume manufacturing lines from RFQ through SOP.
• Provide technical input on equipment design in collaboration with product design, controls, quality, and operations teams.
• Navigate complex supplier relationships, drive alignment, and meet cost targets.
• Anticipate risks and resolve ambiguity to protect cost, schedule, and quality.
• Oversee FAT and SAT to ensure equipment meets functional and throughput requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement to increase OEE, reduce cycle time, and improve line reliability.

Skills

High-volume manufacturing

Mass production launches

Supplier & integrator relationships

GD&T literacy

Automation & conveyors

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or industrial engineering

Job description

What to Expect

Heron Power is a startup company building cutting-edge power electronics for the 21st-century grid. We aim to debottleneck the growth of electricity generation and consumption with scalable, innovative, and less costly hardware solutions, accelerating the electrification of everything.

Our first goal is to build better converters (inverters & rectifiers) to connect large-scale renewables, storage, and loads to the grid. Heron Power’s leadership team is made up of seasoned veterans who have designed and shipped gigawatts of power conversion products over the past decade.

We understand that no one individual knows everything. We will all learn a lot together and from each other. We strive to build a collaborative, enriching environment conducive to personal, technical, and career growth. You can expect to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment, driven by first principles engineering, solving difficult problems.

Job Overview

At Heron Power, we are building the future of scalable power electronics. As a Manufacturing Engineering Line Lead, you will play a critical role in launching and scaling production lines.

This high impact role is ideal for engineers who thrive in fast paced environments and are passionate about driving manufacturing system development from concept design into full production. You will lead complex equipment projects, guiding internal teams and external partners to oversee equipment design, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and initial production ramp. This is a position for confident and capable leaders who take full ownership of technical challenges, perform under pressure, and deliver creative solutions that lay the foundation for world class manufacturing.

How You Will Contribute

• Lead the specification / design, fabrication / testing, and installation / commissioning of high-volume manufacturing lines from RFQ through SOP.

• Provide deep technical input on overall equipment design, informing both early concept development and detailed design decisions to ensure alignment with process requirements and production goals in collaboration with product design, controls engineering, quality assurance, and production operations teams.

• Navigate complex equipment integrator and supplier relationships with clarity and accountability while driving technical alignment, enforcing design standards, maintaining schedule commitments, and delivering cost targets.

• Anticipate risks, resolve ambiguity early, and identify issues before they impact cost, schedule, or quality.

• Oversee FAT and SAT activities to ensure equipment meets all functional, quality, and throughput requirements.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase OEE, reduce cycle time, and improve overall line reliability and first pass yield.

• Guide the direction and execution of complex manufacturing programs, bringing technical clarity, executional accountability, and calm leadership to fast-moving, high-stakes environments.

What You Will Bring

We have a short list of must-have requirements. We prioritize a strong grip on first principles, hands-on skills, and a sense of initiative. Domain-specific knowledge and experience will help determine the career level for each hire.

Must-Have Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or similar disciplines.

• 5+ years of full-time industry experience working with high-volume manufacturing processes.

• Track record of strong performance launching mass production lines from concept through ramp.

• Established strategic relationships with equipment suppliers and integrators across general assembly, power electronics, battery pack, drive unit, and other high-volume, high-tech manufacturing sectors.

• Experience with manufacturing processes such as framing, fastening, welding, dispensing/sealing, material handling, and inspection systems.

• Experience with station and fixture design, including locating schemes, datum strategies, GD&T literacy, tolerance stack-up analyses, etc.

• Knowledge of high-volume, heavy-duty conveyance and automation strategies, including indexed versus free-flow pallet systems, AGV/AMR technologies, lift-assist/manipulators, multi-axis robots and gantries, etc.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a knack for distilling complex issues into clear actionable plans.

• Willingness to work in a hands-on role, lead by example, and independently solve ambiguous problems with attention to detail.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience leading PFMEA’s and DFM analyses.

• Expertise in high-volume industrial painting / powder coating process development, equipment selection, and line design.

• Familiarity with manufacturing medium voltage electronics or grid related products such as transformers, switchgear, converters, circuit breakers, etc.

If you are passionate about technology and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, we would love to hear from you. Join us in accelerating the electrification of everything at Heron Power.

Heron Power provides competitive compensation (salary and equity) and benefits. The salary for this role ranges from $120,000 to $191,000 per year.