Prototype Lead for Marine Manufacturing & Innovation

Chris Craft Corporation; Sarasota (FL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Chris-Craft, a timeless leader in luxury boats, is seeking a hands-on Prototype Supervisor to lead our Sarasota prototype team and drive the development of next-generation boats.

You will oversee building, testing, and refining new models, collaborating with engineering and manufacturing to turn concepts into production-ready designs. The role emphasizes leadership, safety, and continuous improvement in a marine manufacturing setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in prototype development or manufacturing environments; boat building/marine experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of FRP and composite manufacturing processes, including vacuum infusion, LRTM, and open mold layup.
• Experience leading teams in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects while meeting aggressive timelines.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Hands-on mindset with the ability to fabricate, test, troubleshoot, and validate concepts.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a skilled prototype team while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Supervising prototype builds, first-article fabrication, and assembly activities supporting new product development.
• Driving innovation by troubleshooting prototype builds and improving manufacturing methods, tooling, and processes.
• Supporting testing and evaluation of prototype boats, documenting findings, and making recommendations for product enhancements.
• Working closely with engineering teams to improve manufacturability and accelerate successful product launches.
• Training production teams and ensuring smooth transitions from prototype development into full-scale manufacturing.
• Managing priorities, departmental performance metrics, inventory, and project timelines to ensure successful execution.

Skills

Prototype development

Team leadership

FRP/composites

Vacuum infusion

LRTM/open mold layup

Manufacturing excellence

Problem-solving

Education

Associate/Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business

Job description

Chris-Craft, a timeless leader in luxury boats, is seeking a hands-on Prototype Supervisor to lead our Sarasota prototype team and drive the development of next-generation boats.

You will oversee building, testing, and refining new models, collaborating with engineering and manufacturing to turn concepts into production-ready designs. The role emphasizes leadership, safety, and continuous improvement in a marine manufacturing setting.