Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Elev8 Recruitment; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Elev8 Recruitment is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager for an Advanced Robotics & Automation project in the San Francisco Bay Area. You will take ownership of the developing manufacturing operation and shape how products are built at scale.

You will lead manufacturing engineers and assembly technicians, develop fixtures and tooling, and improve assembly methods to reduce build times. This role demands hands-on leadership and a strong focus on scalable processes.

Qualifications

• Experience taking complex electromechanical products from prototype into repeatable, low-volume production.
• Experience leading manufacturing teams on the factory floor.
• Experience in robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, or advanced machinery environments.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop a growing manufacturing operation on the production floor.
• Develop fixtures, tooling and assembly methods to reduce build times.
• Establish manufacturing processes to support future growth and scalability.
• Lead manufacturing engineers and assembly technicians while remaining hands-on yourself.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Process development

Fixture development

Production engineering

Lean manufacturing

Job description

Advanced Robotics & Automation | San Francisco Bay Area | $150,000-$250,000

The assembly line exists. The first team is in place. Now comes the challenge of turning complex hardware into repeatable production.

We're working with a well-funded, rapidly growing technology business developing advanced electromechanical systems for next-generation automation applications.

They're looking for a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to take ownership of a developing manufacturing operation and help shape how their products are built at scale.

This isn't a role where you'll inherit a polished manufacturing operation.

You'll join an established but growing production team, with active builds already underway, processes still being developed and plenty of technical challenges left to solve.

You'll have the freedom to get involved in the detail, from developing fixtures and tooling to improving assembly methods, reducing build times and establishing manufacturing processes capable of supporting future growth.

You'll also be responsible for developing the people behind the operation, leading manufacturing engineers and assembly technicians while remaining hands-on yourself.

It's an opportunity to take ownership of both the engineering and operational sides of manufacturing, rather than being confined to one or the other.

Who would suit this opportunity?

Someone who has already experienced the challenges of taking complex electromechanical products from prototype into repeatable, low-volume production.

You might currently be a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Staff Manufacturing Engineer, NPI Lead or Manufacturing Engineering Manager.

Experience within robotics, autonomous systems, aerospace, advanced machinery or similarly complex hardware environments would be particularly relevant.

You'll need to have led manufacturing teams, developed processes and worked directly on the production floor.

We're looking for someone who enjoys building manufacturing operations, rather than simply maintaining them.

What's on offer?

• Ownership of a growing manufacturing operation


• Opportunity to develop and expand an engineering and production team


• Hands-on involvement in technically complex hardware


• Significant influence over manufacturing processes and production strategy


• Full-time, on-site position in the San Francisco Bay Area

If you've helped take hardware from early builds into production and want greater ownership of the manufacturing operation, we'd welcome a confidential conversation.