Manufacturing Research Engineer

Meta; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Meta in Redmond is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer focused on Reality Labs Research to develop and scale novel manufacturing processes for high-performing hardware prototypes. You will bridge research and production, providing DFMA feedback, and leading crossfunctional teams to move technologies from feasibility to pilot production.

The role requires 8+ years of experience in scaling hardware for wearables or robotics, strong DOE and quality-control skills, and the ability to manage internal

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years scaling hardware from early feasibility to pilot-production.
• Experience in wearables/robotics with high-volume constraints.
• DOE, process parameters, quality-control strategies experience.
• Hardware build and supplier management supporting schedules/QA.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing development across cross-functional teams to deliver hardware prototypes.
• Provide design-for-manufacture input to researchers to improve feasibility.
• Set direction for processes across multiple programs and scale to pilot production.
• Grow in-house capabilities and manage external manufacturing partners.
• Advance manufacturing excellence and best practices for complex systems.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Design for manufacturability

Process development planning

External vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

CAD NX

Job description

Summary:

As a Manufacturing Engineer in Reality Labs Research, you will develop novel manufacturing processes — spanning research-stage components and materials through complex, fully integrated devices — and advance them from early feasibility and proof-of-concept through process qualification and pilot production, delivering reliable, high-performing hardware prototypes. The development of state-of-the-art prototypes will require the intersection of novel materials, manufacturing processes, mechanical, electrical, and software fields. You will bring experience with a wide variety of manufacturing processes and demonstrated experience of leading cross-functional engineering efforts to rapidly develop and scale technologies from low to high volumes. More broadly, you will work with a diverse and highly interdisciplinary team of researchers and engineers and will have access to cutting edge technology, resources, and testing facilities.

Manufacturing Research Engineer Responsibilities:

1. Lead manufacturing development activities across cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, high-performing hardware prototypes
2. Provide design-for-manufacturability, assembly, and test feedback to research scientists and engineers to improve the manufacturing feasibility of novel technologies
3. Set manufacturing technical direction across multiple concurrent research programs, defining and executing the process maturation path that scales state-of-the-art components and prototypes from early feasibility to pilot-production volumes
4. Grow in-house manufacturing capabilities and manage external manufacturing partnerships
5. Raise the bar for manufacturing excellence and best practices by developing, and continuously improving, processes and relationships which empower researchers and design engineers to build increasingly complex systems

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, other relevant field, or equivalent experience
2. 8+ years of experience scaling hardware technologies from early-stage feasibility to pilot-production or mass manufacture
3. Experience developing high-volume consumer products with stringent size, weight, power, and cost constraints in wearables, robotics, or similar
4. Experience designing and implementing process development plans, design of experiments (DOE), critical process parameters, and quality control strategies
5. Experience defining hardware build and supply chain plans, and managing external manufacturing vendors to meet program schedule and quality requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience with any combination of manufacturing techniques, such as electro-mechanical integration, coatings, laminating, active optical alignment, molding, machining, additive manufacturing, and adhesive bonding
2. Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
3. Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other relevant field
4. Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
5. Experience establishing in-house prototyping or pilot-line capability, including equipment selection, installation, process qualification, and capacity planning
6. Experience developing processes for novel or unproven materials, including material characterization and process-window definition
7. Experience with CAD, such as NX or related programs
8. Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)

Public Compensation:

$173,000/year to $245,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Industry:

Internet

Equal Opportunity:

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmandative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.

Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [e-mail].