Prototype Fabrication Shop Manager — Lead CNC & Proto Line

Socket.dev; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Health, vision, dental benefits

Unlimited PTO

FSA with employer matching

EAP

Stock options

Job summary

Sesame is building a fabrication shop in Bellevue, WA and seeks a Fabrication Shop Manager to lead a hands-on, multi-discipline team. You’ll design the space, establish processes, and work with engineering to turn concepts into production-like prototypes.

The ideal candidate has 12+ years in prototype manufacturing, proven shop leadership, CNC mastery, GD&T, and experience hiring and directing technicians. On-site presence in Bellevue is required; strong vendor management and safety leadership

Qualifications

• 12+ years in prototype machine shop, pilot line, or manufacturing engineering roles, with at least 3 years managing a shop or team.
• Hands-on mastery of CNC machining (setup, fixturing, CAM basics) and at least one joining or forming process such as ultrasonic welding, thermoforming, or laser processing.
• Experience standing up or expanding a shop or line: equipment selection, layout, procurement, and commissioning.
• Strong command of mechanical drawings, GD&T, metrology, and common engineering materials (plastics, metals, composites).
• Proven ability to hire and lead technicians and operators and to manage vendors to schedule and budget.
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting designs & data to cross-functional teams.
• Safety-first mindset with experience owning shop safety programs.
• On-site role in Bellevue, WA; daily hands-on presence in the shop.

Responsibilities

• Shop Design & Build: Design a functional & flexible space to meet current & future proto needs; Drive equipment selection and procurement, utilities, safety, and IT; Manage build & equipment install and commissioning.
• Manufacturing Process Development: Develop, characterize, and document processes for CNC machining (multi-axis, metal and plastic); Develop jigs, fixtures, and work instructions that make each process repeatable; Use metrology and CT scanning to qualify parts and processes against drawings and GD&T.
• Shop Operations & Team Leadership: Run the shop: scheduling, job tracking, equipment uptime and maintenance, consumables, inventory, and budget; Hire, manage, and grow CNC engineers and operators, technicians, and shop support staff; Set priorities across concurrent programs and keep turnaround times predictable for engineering; Own shop safety: training, PPE, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and hazardous materials handling; Source, qualify, and manage external CNC, molding, PCBA, and specialty fabrication vendors; apply a clear in-house vs. vendor framework.
• Engineering Partnership & Quality Judgment: Review designs early for manufacturability and flag process risk; Evaluate builds for fit, finish, and dimensional quality and document results with photos, measurements, and structured feedback; Coordinate with engineering leads to align proto line schedules with program milestones.

Skills

CNC machining

Shop leadership

GD&T

Metrology

Vendor management

Safety leadership

Communication

Detailed planning

Problem solving

Project management

Tools

Mastercam

Hypermill

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

CT scanning

Job description

Sesame is building a fabrication shop in Bellevue, WA and seeks a Fabrication Shop Manager to lead a hands-on, multi-discipline team. You’ll design the space, establish processes, and work with engineering to turn concepts into production-like prototypes.

The ideal candidate has 12+ years in prototype manufacturing, proven shop leadership, CNC mastery, GD&T, and experience hiring and directing technicians. On-site presence in Bellevue is required; strong vendor management and safety leadership